Food 4 Life - Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

What are Eating Disorders?

People with eating disorders experience serious disturbances in their eating patterns, such as a severe and unhealthy reduction in their food intake or overeating, as well as extreme concern about body shape or weight. Eating disorders usually develop during adolescence or early adulthood. Eating disorders are not due to weak willpower or bad behaviour; rather, they are real, treatable illnesses. The two main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Who has eating disorders?

• Women are much more likely than men to develop an eating disorder.
• Research suggests that about 1 percent of female adolescents have anorexia.
• An estimated 1 - 4% of women have bulimia nervosa in their lifetime.
• About 50% of people who have had anorexia develop bulimia or bulimic patterns.

What causes eating disorders?

As with most mental illnesses, eating disorders are not caused by just one factor but by a combination of sociocultural, psychological and biological factors.

·         Sociocultural and psychological factors:

·         Biological factors:

Anorexia Nervosa 

Extreme weight loss and believing that one is fat despite excessive thinness are key features of anorexia. Some of the signs are:

·         severe weight loss

·         distortions and misconceptions about weight and body size

·         obsession with food and calories

·         preoccupation with self-control

·         excessive exercising

·         isolation, loss of friends

·         emotional, irritable behaviour

·         secret vomiting/purging

·         loss of menstrual periods

Bulimia Nervosa

People who have bulimia regularly binge-eat and then attempt to prevent gaining weight from their binge through purging (e.g., vomiting, abusing laxatives, exercising excessively). The following are signs of bulimia:

• binge-eating large amounts of food
• obsession with food and calories
• vomiting and purging
• often disappearing to the lavatory after meals
• secretive behaviour
• feeling out of control
• menstrual disturbances
• very low self-esteem

Treatment

It's still not understood exactly what causes an eating disorder, but the good news is that help is available.

A variety of people treat eating disorders, using different techniques. Eating disorders require a comprehensive, long-term treatment plan. These include family doctors, psychiatrists, dieticians and, ideally, a multidisciplinary team on a specialised eating disorders unit.

Treatment includes self-help approaches and psychological treatments, especially cognitive behavioural therapy, which aims to give people a better understanding of their condition and learn ways to change their behaviour.

Unfortunately, many people with eating disorders will not admit they are ill and refuse treatment. Support from family and friends is vital to successful treatment and recovery.

What are the long-term effects of eating disorders?

Left untreated, eating disorders may lead to malnutrition; muscle atrophy; dry skin, hair, and nails; dental problems; insomnia or chronic fatigue; ulcers; low blood pressure; diabetes; anaemia; kidney, liver, and pancreas failure; osteoporosis and arthritis; infertility; seizures; heart attack; and death.

Getting better is often a long, slow process. For example, 30 per cent of anorexics who have apparently recovered relapse in the first year after treatment and need more therapy. However, up to 75 per cent of those with anorexia nervosa will achieve the aims of treatment after six months to six years. As many as 50 per cent recover completely, while another 30 to 40 per cent manage to lead a normal life.