Eating Disorders

• Eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight and food, and eating habits that disrupt normal body function and daily activities.

STATISTICS

• 28% of girls in grade 9 and 29% of girls in grade 10 engaged in weight-loss behaviours

• 37% percent of girls in grade nine and 40% in grade ten perceived themselves as too fat. Even among students of normal-weight (based on BMI), 19% believed that they were too fat, and 12% of students reported attempting to lose weight

CAUSES

• Combination of psychological, genetic, social, and family factors are thought to be involved.

• Anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sometimes, problems at home can put kids at higher risk of problem eating behaviors.

• Media images: celebrities, advertising, movies, TV, and sports programs

In a Glamour survey, 61% of respondents said they were ashamed of their hips, 64% of respondents said they were ashamed of their stomachs and 72% were ashamed of their thighs.

30% of woman chose an ideal body shape that is 20% underweight

1 out of 4 men and

1 out of 4 women are on a diet at any given time.

2 out of 5 women and 1 out of 5 men would trade three to five years of their life to achieve their weight goals.

Bulimia nervosa: the diet-binge-purge disorder

Believes self-worth requires being thin.

BULIMIA

• fear weight gain• be intensely unhappy

with body size, shape, and weight

• make excuses to go to the bathroom immediately after meals

• only eat diet or low-fat foods (except during binges)

• regularly buy laxatives, diuretics, or enemas

• spend a lot of time working out or trying to work off calories

• withdraw from social activities, especially meals and celebrations involving food

Anorexia nervosa: the relentless pursuit of thinness

Person refuses to maintain normal body weight for age and height.

Weighs 85% or less than what is expected for age and height.

In women, menstrual periods stop. In men levels of sex hormones fall.

Is terrified of gaining weight even though s/he is markedly underweight.

Anorexia

• very thin, frail, or emaciated

• be obsessed with eating, food, and weight control

• weigh herself or himself repeatedly

• count or portion food carefully

• only eat certain foods, avoid foods like dairy, meat, wheat,

• exercise excessively• feels fat• withdraw from social activities,

especially meals and celebrations involving food

• be depressed, lethargic (lacking in energy), and feel cold a lot

Binge Eating• Uncontrollable eating• During such binges, a

person rapidly consumes an excessive amount of food.

• Hide this behavior from others, and often feel ashamed about being overweight or depressed about their overeating.

The Female Athlete’s Triad

• The Triad– Eating Disorders– Stress Fractures– Amenorrhea

• At risk– Appearance Related Sports– High Performance Sports

The Female Athlete’s Triad

What to look for:– Weight– Heart Rate of 40-50– Hypotension– Hypothermia– Swelling– Poor dentition– Overuse injuries, especially stress fractures

The Female Athlete’s Triad

Treatments—multidisciplinary effort– Estrogen Replacement

• 3 years post-menarche and older than 16 years old

• Or, if history of stress fracture

– Decrease energy expenditure

– Nutritional consultation

– Calcium with vitamin D

– Psychological counseling.

– NOT NSAIDs

QUESTIONS?

Treatment

• Eating disorders are serious clinical problems that require professional treatment by doctors, therapists, and nutritionists.