Eating Disorder Information

Health condition


Three of the most common eating disorders are: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

· Anorexia nervosa
People who have anorexia develop unusual eating habits such as avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating them in small amounts, weighing their food, and counting the calories of everything they eat. It is a serious problem and people with this eating disorder may also have a fear of being fat and deliberately starve or refuse to eat. Also, they may exercise excessively.

Anorexia can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure, increasing the chance of heart failure. Those who use drugs to stimulate vomiting, bowel movements, or urination are also at high risk for heart failure. Starvation can also lead to heart failure, as well as damage the brain. Anorexia may also cause hair and nails to grow brittle. Skin may dry out, become yellow, and develop a covering of soft hair called lanugo. Mild anemia, swollen joints, reduced muscle mass, and light-headedness also commonly occur as a consequence of this eating disorder. Severe cases of anorexia can lead to brittle bones that break easily as a result of calcium loss.

People with this eating disorder, weighs at least 15 percent below what is considered normal for others of the same height and age. Females may miss at least three consecutive menstrual cycles (if a female of childbearing age); has an intense fear of gaining weight; refuses to maintain the minimal normal body weight; and believes he or she is overweight though in reality is dangerously thin. Anorexia nervosa is often caused by depression and is common among young women.

· Bulimia nervosa
People who have bulimia eat an excessive amount of food in a single episode and almost immediately make themselves vomit or use laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to get rid of the food in their bodies. This behavior often is referred to as the "binge/purge" cycle. Like people with anorexia, people with bulimia have an intense fear of gaining weight.

Frequent vomiting has detrimental effects on the body. The acid in vomit can wear down the outer layer of the teeth, inflame and damage the esophagus (a tube in the throat through which food passes to the stomach), and enlarge the glands near the cheeks (giving the appearance of swollen cheeks). Damage to the stomach can also occur from frequent vomiting. Irregular heartbeats, heart failure, and death can occur from chemical imbalances and the loss of important minerals such as potassium. Peptic ulcers, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, which is a large gland that aids digestion), and long-term constipation are also consequences of bulimia.

Bulimic people have at least two binge/purge cycles a week, on average, for at least 3 months; lacks control over his or her eating behaviour; and seems obsessed with his or her body shape and weight.

· Binge-eating disorder
In general, over eating of all kinds is usually the result of emotional and psychological factors related with anxiety, grief, sadness and low esteem. Some people go on eating to compensate emotions.

People with this recently recognized disorder have frequent episodes of compulsive overeating, but unlike those with bulimia, they do not purge their bodies of food, During these food binges, they often eat alone and very quickly, regardless of whether they feel hungry or full. They often feel shame or guilt over their actions. Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge-eating disorder occurs almost as often in men as in women.

Binge-eating disorder can cause high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Other effects of binge-eating disorder include fatigue, joint pain, Type II diabetes, gallbladder disease, and heart disease. They may also lead to obesity and metabolic disorders.

People with such eating disorder has at least two binge-eating episodes a week, on average, for 6 months; and lacks control over his or her eating behaviour.

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