Eating DisordersEating Disorders

Intro to PsychologyIntro to Psychology

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Eating Disorders Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are characterized by severe Eating disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior. disturbances in eating behavior. The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed as a survival mechanism. as a survival mechanism. Just as an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person Just as an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting to deal with their problems. Some of restricting to deal with their problems. Some of the underlying issues that are associated with an the underlying issues that are associated with an eating disorder include low self-esteem, eating disorder include low self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feelings of depression, feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthlessness, identity concerns, family worthlessness, identity concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope communication problems and an inability to cope with emotions. with emotions. ..

The practice of an eating disorder may The practice of an eating disorder may be an expression of something that be an expression of something that the eating disordered individual has the eating disordered individual has found no other way of expressing. found no other way of expressing.

Eating disorders are usually divided Eating disorders are usually divided into three categories: Anorexia into three categories: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive OvereatingCompulsive Overeating

Anorexia NervosaAnorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is a disorder where the main characteristic is the Anorexia is a disorder where the main characteristic is the restriction of food and the refusal to maintain a minimal restriction of food and the refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight. normal body weight.

Any actual gain or even perceived gain of weight is met Any actual gain or even perceived gain of weight is met with intense fear by the Anorexic. Not only is there a true with intense fear by the Anorexic. Not only is there a true feeling of fear, but also once in the grasp of the disorder, feeling of fear, but also once in the grasp of the disorder, Anorexics experience body image distortions. Anorexics experience body image distortions.

Those areas of the body usually representing maturity or Those areas of the body usually representing maturity or sexuality including the buttocks, hips, thighs and breast are sexuality including the buttocks, hips, thighs and breast are visualized by the Anorexic as being fat. visualized by the Anorexic as being fat.

For some Anorexics, weight loss is so severe there is a loss For some Anorexics, weight loss is so severe there is a loss of menses. In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, Anorexics of menses. In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, Anorexics participate in restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, and participate in restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxative and diuretic abuse. laxative and diuretic abuse.

If Anorexia Nervosa is left untreated, it can be fatal.If Anorexia Nervosa is left untreated, it can be fatal.

Bulimia NervosaBulimia Nervosa

Bulimics are caught in the devastating and Bulimics are caught in the devastating and addictive binge-purge cycle.addictive binge-purge cycle.

The Bulimic eats compulsively and then The Bulimic eats compulsively and then purges through self-induced vomiting, use of purges through self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, ipecac, strict laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, ipecac, strict diets, fasts, chew-spitting, vigorous exercise, diets, fasts, chew-spitting, vigorous exercise, or other compensatory behaviors to prevent or other compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. weight gain.

Binges usually consist of the consumption of Binges usually consist of the consumption of large amounts of food in a short period of large amounts of food in a short period of time. time.

Binge eating usually occurs in secret. Binge eating usually occurs in secret. Bulimics, like Anorexics, are also Bulimics, like Anorexics, are also obsessively involved with their body obsessively involved with their body shape and weight. The medical shape and weight. The medical complications of the binge-purge complications of the binge-purge cycle can be severe and like cycle can be severe and like Anorexia can be fatal.Anorexia can be fatal.

Compulsive OvereatingCompulsive Overeating

Compulsive Overeaters are often caught in the Compulsive Overeaters are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating and depression. vicious cycle of binge eating and depression.

They often use food as a coping mechanism to They often use food as a coping mechanism to deal with their feelings. deal with their feelings.

Binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of Binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of these feelings, but is unfortunately followed these feelings, but is unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and depression. Binge eating, like Bulimia, often depression. Binge eating, like Bulimia, often occurs in secret. It is not uncommon for occurs in secret. It is not uncommon for CompulsiveCompulsive

Overeaters to eat normally or restrictively in Overeaters to eat normally or restrictively in front of others and then make up for eating front of others and then make up for eating less by bingeing in secret. less by bingeing in secret.

For other Compulsive overeaters, binges For other Compulsive overeaters, binges consist of “grazing” on foods all day long. consist of “grazing” on foods all day long. Similar to Anorexics and Bulimics, Similar to Anorexics and Bulimics, Compulsive Overeaters are constantly Compulsive Overeaters are constantly struggling and unhappy with their weight. struggling and unhappy with their weight.

The number on the scale often determines The number on the scale often determines how they feel about themselves. Medical how they feel about themselves. Medical complications can also be severe and even complications can also be severe and even life threatening for Compulsive Overeaters.life threatening for Compulsive Overeaters.

Night Eating SyndromeNight Eating Syndrome

Night Eating Syndrome is a disorder where the Night Eating Syndrome is a disorder where the affected individual wakes multiple times during the affected individual wakes multiple times during the night and is unable to fall back asleep unless they night and is unable to fall back asleep unless they eat something. Foods eaten during the binge are eat something. Foods eaten during the binge are often high caloric in content and unhealthy. The often high caloric in content and unhealthy. The night eating behavior seems totally beyond the night eating behavior seems totally beyond the effected individual's control.effected individual's control.

For these individuals, 35% or more of their calories For these individuals, 35% or more of their calories are eaten after dinnertime. Following the night are eaten after dinnertime. Following the night binge, the person is often not hungry in the morning. binge, the person is often not hungry in the morning. Individuals suffering from Night Eating Syndrome are Individuals suffering from Night Eating Syndrome are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating during the night and eating less during the day. during the night and eating less during the day.

Triggers for Night Eating Syndrome include Triggers for Night Eating Syndrome include depression, anxiety, interpersonal stressors, depression, anxiety, interpersonal stressors, boredom, prolonged dieting, and body image boredom, prolonged dieting, and body image dissatisfaction. dissatisfaction.

Night eating may temporarily relieve the stress of Night eating may temporarily relieve the stress of these unwanted feelings, but for the night eater these unwanted feelings, but for the night eater these episodes are unfortunately followed by these episodes are unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and further feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and further depression. depression.

For the person suffering from Night Eating For the person suffering from Night Eating Syndrome, the eating episodes usually occur in Syndrome, the eating episodes usually occur in secret and any evidence is often hidden from secret and any evidence is often hidden from others. others.

Similar to Anorexics, Bulimics, and Compulsive Similar to Anorexics, Bulimics, and Compulsive Overeaters, individuals suffering from Night Overeaters, individuals suffering from Night Eating Syndrome are often struggling and Eating Syndrome are often struggling and unhappy with their weight. unhappy with their weight.

It is estimated that up to one percent of the It is estimated that up to one percent of the population may be suffering from Night Eating population may be suffering from Night Eating Syndrome. Syndrome.

Like Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa, and Like Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa, and Compulsive Overeating, Night Eating Syndrome is Compulsive Overeating, Night Eating Syndrome is a disease and cannot be cured with willpower a disease and cannot be cured with willpower alone.alone.