Essential Facts About Eating Disorders
As people are becoming more overweight than ever before, society is placing higher value on a thin, fit physique. Consequently, almost everyone is concerned about their weight and body image. Some people take matters to extremes, to the point where unhealthy eating behaviors threaten their health and cause psychiatric problems.
When people focus too much on body shape, it can lead to dangerous behaviors which prevent the body from getting enough nutrition. Eating disorders lead to a wide variety of health problems that harm the digestive system and the heart or lead to diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
There are many different types of eating disorders, but the three most common ones are anorexia,
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Bulimia can be mild, moderate, severe or extreme, depending on the frequency of binge-purge cycles the patient has per week. About 1 to 4% of females will develop bulimia during their life. The number is much less common in males. Vomiting and laxatives create electrolyte imbalance that hinders the function of the heart. In some cases, heart attacks and death can occur. Bulimia can also cause fatigue, seizures and high blood pressure.
Binge-eating disorder questions
What causes binge-eating disorder (BED)?
The exact cause is not known, but there are some known contributing risk factors. Some biological factors such as hormonal irregularities and genetic factors may contribute to compulsive eating or food addiction. Depression is associated with binge eating in many cases, as are low self-esteem and difficulty managing emotions. People who are bullied about their weight are at higher risk to develop binge eating disorder.
What are signs and symptoms of binge-eating disorder?
People with the disorder usually conceal their bingeing, but there are some signs to look for, such as:
Uncomfortable eating around others or in public Stealing or hoarding food in unusual places Withdrawal from social
Bulimia nervosa afflicts mostly women (about 6% of adolescent girls, and 5% of college women). Most individuals with bulimia engage in compensatory activities such as vomiting, laxative abuse, strict dieting, and vigorous exercise (Alexander).
In Conclusion, Binge Eating Disorder is a serious disorder characterized by overeating. If somebody is eating to fill their emotional needs in closure they should seek help. Binge Eating Disorder can happen to anybody and one of its many symptoms is linked to depression. There are many treatment options available for those looking to seek help.
A variation of Anorexia, Bulimia ranges from excessive food intake, to an out of control compulsive cycle of binge eating where extraordinary amounts of any available food, usually of high carbohydrate content, may be consumed. Once having gorged, the victims are overcome with the urge to rd themselves of what they hate eaten by purging themselves, usually by vomiting, and sometimes by massive doses of laxatives. Between these obsessive bouts, most are able to accept some nutrition. Whereas the anorexic sufferer fears fatness from anticipated loss of eating control, and unlike the anorexic sufferer the typical bulimic individual is not emaciated, but usually maintains a normal body weight and appears to be fit and healthy.
Eating Disorders (EDs) are a series of often life-threatening mental health disorders which are commonly used as coping mechanisms or as ways to mask one’s problems. The causes of these illnesses are still being researched, and the effects they have on a person’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing can often be as long as the sufferer’s life.
Bulimia Nervosa; often is called Bulimia, it can be categorized into two different groups. Such as non-purging and purging. Bulimia has no known cause for this illness, bulimia affects mostly females aged from late teens to early adulthood.But males have the illness too. Signs of Bulimia include: Eating lots of high calorie/ high fat foods. Feeling bad about oneself after a binge. Feeling ashamed and depressed about one’s eating habits. Feelings that habits are out of control. (Eating disorders and weight control 26)
Anorexia has many negative effects as well. According to the University of Maryland Medical Centers article Eating Disorders, “Anorexia nervosa can increase the risk for serious health problems such as: hormonal changes including reproductive, thyroid, stress, and growth hormones, heart problems such as abnormal heart rhythm, electrolyte imbalance, fertility problems, bone density loss, anemia, and neurological problems.” Anorexia can severely affect a person internally. The continuous lack of nutrients can leave an anorexic person extremely frail. The heart in particular can grow so weak, that heart failure occurs. Eating disorders can lead too permanent health damages can stay with a person for the rest of their life.
Binge-eating disorder is defined as an eating disorder in which a person frequently consumes large amounts of food while feeling out of control and unable to stop. Almost everyone overeats every once in a while but for some people overeating crosses the line to binge-eating disorder and it becomes a regular occurrence. Many people who have this disorder may feel embarrassed about eating large amounts of food in front of others however the urge and compulsiveness of this disorder continues to affect their eating habits. Binge-eating disorder is estimated to affect approximately 1-5% of the general population and also tends to affect women slightly more often than men. Binge-eating disorder is often associated with symptoms of depression and people diagnosed with this may often express distress, shame, and guilt over their eating behaviors.
An eating disorder is described as “any range of psychological disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits”. Most people think eating disorders are only found in women when in fact 10-15% of eating disorders are found in men. “Up to 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder in the U.S.” As a survivor of an eating disorder I have seen the harmful effects it causes towards the body and the people around you. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) says that research has found that the public health significance and severity of all types of eating disorders are extremely high and need to be dealt with.
It is normal to overeat from time to time, but when it comes to binge eating, the urge is persistent and seemingly uncontrollable and is usually accompanied by feelings of shame and guilt. Binge eating disorder, just like other mental disorders, is strongly linked to depression, low self-esteem, anxiety and stress. Persistent overeating also leads to obesity and other serious health conditions.
There may be murmurs about that girl who only fixes herself a salad with only vinegar at dining services or suspicious glances at someone who spends 45 minutes on the treadmill and then switches to the stair stepper at the rec. On-campus eating disorders are talked about everywhere and yet are not really talked about at all. There is observation, concern, and gossip, but hushed conversation and larger scale efforts to help and change never seem to earn public attention.
About 1.6 percent of adolescents may also be affected.” (niddk.nih.gov, 2012, para.5) There are many signs that might meant that you have a binge eating eating disorder. (Facts)Some of these include eating extreme amounts of food in two hours or less and they may feel like they can't stop eating or control how much they are eating. They also eat more quickly and eat if they are alone even if they aren't even that hungry than they will keep eating until they are uncomfortable.(niddk.nih.gov, 2012, para.8-9)
Eating disorders are a big issue in society these days. Young adults and adults are starting to have body images that are likely not reachable. More than 8 million people suffer from an eating disorder in America itself. Eating disorders are mental disorders about abnormal eating or not eating enough a day. There many eating disorders including Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia, Binge eating disorders and lots more. All these and more eating disorders is a way people thinking that they can escape their problems.
Bulimia is marked by significant cycles in eating habits. Bulimics will often starve themselves (calorie/food/fat intake restriction -- sometimes with the help of diet pills or supplements) for extended periods of time prior to a massive binge, during which they consume abnormal amounts of food in a short period of time. These binges are followed by purging, which generally is constituted by self-induced vomiting. Other methods of purging the body include the use of diuretics, laxatives, and excessive exercising. Bulimics are generally within what is considered to be a "normal" weight range, but see themselves as being overly fat, or suffer from an intense fear of gaining weight. They often do realize that they have a problem, but by that point the cycle has become an obsession. Bulimics usually weigh themselves frequently, even several times daily.
It is normal to overeat from time to time, but when it comes to binge eating, the urge is persistent and seemingly uncontrollable, and is usually accompanied by feelings of shame and guilt. Binge eating disorder, just like other mental disorders, is strongly linked to depression, low self-esteem, anxiety and stress. Persistent overeating leads to obesity and other serious health conditions.
Eating disorders are a serious health problem. Personal Counseling & Resources says that eating disorders "are characterized by a focus on body shape, weight, fat, food, and perfectionism and by feelings of powerlessness and low self-esteem." Three of the most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating or compulsive eating disorder. According to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, a person with anorexia "refuses to maintain normal body weight for age and height" and "weighs 85 percent or less than what is what is expected for age and height." A person diagnosed with bulimia has several ways of getting rid of the calories such as binge eating, vomiting, laxative misuse, exercising, or fasting. The person might have a normal weight for their age and height unless anorexia is present. The signs of a compulsive eater include eating meals frequently, rapidly, and secretly. This person might also snack and nibble all day long. The compulsive eater tends to have a history of diet failures and may be depressed or obese (Anred.com).