Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders: are one category of mental disorder. Individuals
with eating disorders have some problem with food, for example they
may overeat (e.g. obesity), undereat (e.g. anorexia), or vomit
repeatedly (e.g. ruminative disorder). There is some evidence that
eating disorders are have a genetic basis but are also triggered by
environmental stressors.
Anorexia nervosa
It is literally a ‘nervous lack of appetite’. The main characteristics
are as follows:
* Deliberate and prolonged restriction of calorie intake and
considerable weight loss.
* Intense fear of gaining weight, but anorexics are often very
hungry and preoccupied with food.
* Anorexics have a disturbed body image – they usually continue to
see themselves as overweight despite a large weight loss.
* Amenorrhoea (no menstrual cycle).
* Largely a problem with middle class, adolescent girls.
* It is sometimes seen as a modern problem.
* There are two types of anorexia: The restricting type – constant
fasting, and the binge eating/purge type – those who periodically
binge and purge.
Bulimia nervosa
It is a more common problem than anorexia and probably more related to
dieting. The main characteristics are as follows:
* Periods of compulsive bingeing followed by forced vomiting or the
use of laxatives or other means.
* Binge-eating is reasonably common among dieters. When it occurs
more than 2 times a week and for over 3 months, it is considered
abnormal.
* Bulimics are obsessive about their weight, though it is usually
nearer normal than anorexics. Most of them are within 10% of
correct body weight.
Explanations of Anorexia...
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