EATING DISORDERS
Each year millions of people in the
United States develop serious and sometimes life-threatening eating
disorders. More than 90% of these afflicted with eating disorders are
adolescent and young adult women. Why this group? They are particularly
vulnerable to eating disorders because of going on strict diets to achieve
an "ideal" figure. Researchers have found that such stringent
dieting can play a key role in triggering eating disorders.
About 1% of adolescent girls develop anorexia nervous, a condition where
a person starves themselves or severely restricts their food intake.
Another 2-3 % of young women develop bulimia nervous, characterized
by recurring period of binge eating, and then purging. These eating
disorders also occur in men and older women, but not as frequent. The
consequences of eating disorders can be severe, 1 in 10 cases leading
to death from starvation, cardiac arrest, or suicide. Some people with
eating disorders refuse to admit that they have a problem and do not
get treatment.
Some signs of anorexia nervosa are refusal to eat (except tiny portions),
continuous dieting, compulsive exercise, abnormal weight loss, sensitive
to cold, and hair loss. Food and weight become obsessions. For some
strange eating rituals or the refusal to eat in front of others are
signs of anorexia nervosa. It is not uncommon for people suffering from
anorexia collect recipes and prepare gourmet feasts for family and friends,
but will not eat it themselves.
People with bulimia nervosa eat large amounts of food and then rid their
bodies of excess calories by vomiting, take laxatives or enemas or exercise
obsessively. People who suffer from bulimia will binge and purge in
private. They maintain a normal or above normal body weight, so they
can hide their problem for years. Some other symptoms are preoccupation
with food, denial of hunger or drugs to induce vomiting, and abuse of
laxatives, diuretics, and diet pills.
Binge eating disorders resembles bulimia nervosa. Like bulimia, the
disorder is characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing.
It differs in the fact that the suffers do not purge their bodies of
excess food. Individuals with binge eating disorders feel that they
lose control of themselves when eating. They eat until they can eat
no more. It is more difficult for them to loose weight and keep it off.
Binge eating disorder is found in about 2% of the general population-more
often in women than men.
Eating disorders have among the highest mortality rates of all mental
disorders, killing up to 10 percent of their victims. Individuals with
eating disorders who use drugs to stimulate vomiting, bowel movement,
or urination are in the most danger, as this practice increases the
risk of heart failure. Mild anemia, swollen joints, reduced muscle mass,
and light-headedness also commonly occur in anorexia. Some other side
affects are clinical depression, anxiety, substance abuse, compulsive
stealing and others.
The treatment of eating disorders are most successful when diagnosed
early. Individuals with eating disorders may deny that they have a problem.
Once an eating disorder is diagnosed, the clinician must determine whether
the patient is in immediate medical danger and requires hospitalization.
Ideally, the treatment team includes an internist, a nutritionist, an
individual psychotherapist, a group and family psychotherapist, and
a psychopharmacologist. Physicians treat any medical complications,
and nutritionists advice on diet and eating regimens.
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