Eating Disorders jinny jihyun lynn daeun
Are they abnormal?
Scenario 1 In 8th grade, Steve s classmates taunted him for being chubby, so he turned to food for comfort and put on more and more weight. Now, at age 32, Steve hates the way he looks and is on yet another diet. After a bad day at work, though, or if he s feeling lonely, or sad, or bored, Steve finds it impossible to resist the fast food drive-ins on the way home. He orders pizzas, cheeseburgers, fries, chocolate shakes, onion rings, and buckets of fried chicken. Then he hits the grocery store for donuts, cookies, and chips. Once home alone, he eats, and doesn t stop until the food is gone and he s so stuffed that he feels sick.
Scenario 2 Kaito has a very fit body and is admired by his classmates. However, when he goes home he eats food only containing protein and works out for more than 3 hours. Sometimes when he drinks or eat something with high calories, he works out more than 3 hours. He feels a great boost of self esteem when he works out more than he can. This has been happening since grade 9 when Kaito was called short and skinny, and what had started off as exercise twice a week became a daily routine as years passed.
Scenario 3 Jen was chubby since a young age. Although she always had a lot of friends around her, as she grew up, her self esteem fell due to the thought that she was not admirable. At grade 8, she tried going on a diet, working out for an hour and half and eating only two meals a day. As months past, she started eating only one meal a day. Eventually she fainted out of malnutrition. However, soon after her fainting, she got back to her normal 2 meals a day and hour and a half exercise routine.
Scenario 4 Mary started working out as a determination to stay healthier. As she grew up, she began to compare herself with other girls of her age. She then worked out even more frequently and adopted a habit of weighing herself twice a day. If she noticed that her weight increased even by slightest, she would freak out and immediately work out. Often, the stress would get to the point where she would quit her plan and eat a mass of junk food. However, she would then feel guilty with fear of turning obese. She would then take laxatives to take out all the food she had eaten not long ago. This cycle repeats.
Eating disorder? Eating disorders are mental disorders defined by abnormal eating habits that negatively affect a person s physical or mental health.
Types of eating disorders 1. Anorexia Nervosa 2. Bulimia Nervosa 3. Binge Eating Disorder
Causes It is not clear but both genetic and environmental factors appear to play a role -Cultural Idealization -People who have experienced sexual abuse are more likely to develop eating disorders
Anorexia Nervosa Lack or loss of appetite for food. Emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. Fear of gaining weight Vomiting Solitude The want to stay away from social life; friends and family. Excessive exercise
Symptoms Fear of weight gain Distorted body image Obvious, rapid, or dramatic weight loss Food restrictions Depression Rapid Mood swings Chronic fatigue Sleep difficulties Physical problems Tooth decay,bone nutrition loss,
Causes Causes are unknown but there may be conditions such as, Biological Not clear if it's related to genes or not May be genetic changes that make people develop anorexia Genetic tendency towards sensitivity and perfectionism Psychological Extreme drive for perfectionism, causing to think they re never thin enough High level of anxiety Environmental Modern media emphasizes thinness Thinks success and worth are often equated with being thin. Peer pressure among society or group of friends.
Treatments Medical Treatments to cure depression,heart problems, osteoporosis (Bone becoming brittle and weak) Therapy Nutritional Counseling Keep track of diet and what is being consumed, making schedules for eating Treating Starvation
Causes Biological: Hypothalamus might not be sending proper signals about hunger and fullness Social and Cultural: Social pressure to be thin Environment setting up food for comfort or reward Sexual abuse
Causes Psychological: Depression Trouble with impulse control and managing and expressing feelings Loneliness Low self esteem Body dissatisfaction
Behavioural symptoms Inability stop or control eating Rapidly eating large amounts of food, even when full Hiding or stockpiling food to eat later in secret Eating normally around others, but gorging when alone Eating continuously throughout the day, with no planned mealtimes
Emotional Symptoms Feeling stress of tension that could only be relieved by eating Embarrassment over how much you re eating Feeling numb while bingeing like you aren t really there Never feel satisfied, no matter how much you eat Feeling guilty, disgusted, or depressed after overeating Desperation to control weight and eating habits
Treatments Drug is necessary (Topamax, antidepressants) Professional Help Cognitive behavioral therapy (how food is used to cope with emotions) Interpersonal therapy (relationships) Dialectical behavior therapy (how to accept themselves) Group therapy/ support groups
Strategies to overcome binge eating Manage stress Eat three meals a day, with healthy snacks between Remove temptations Stop dieting Exercise Fight boredom Get enough sleep Keep a food diary
Bulimia Nervosa Conflict between the desire to lose weight and the compulsion to binge eat The binge and purge cycle
Symptoms Binge eating Purging: Smell of vomit Excessive exercising Frequent use of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas (includes diet pills or sauna) Going to bathroom after meals Discolored teeth Chipmunk cheeks Calluses or scars on the knuckles or hands Not underweight Fluctuations in weight
Effects Behaviors related to purging such as vomiting, taking laxatives, etc. can cause electrolyte imbalances (most commonly low potassium levels) Low potassium levels can lead to a range of symptoms from lethargy and cloudy thinking to irregular heartbeat and death
Causes Low self-esteem History of trauma or abuse Stressful life changes Poor body image Appearance-centered professions or activities
Treatment Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Breaking the cycle Changing unhealthy thoughts and patterns Solving emotional issues
Reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/anorexia_nervosa http://www.helpguide.org/articles/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa.htm http://www.helpguide.org/articles/eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa.htm http://www.helpguide.org/articles/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder. htm