Eating Disorders
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• We live in a society
that is extremely pre-
occupied by body
image where we are
bombarded everyday
about how we should
look, how we should
dress, how we should
act.
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Facts
75% of American
women are
dissatisfied with their
weight.
So are 41% of
American men
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Facts
Amongst American high school students, 44% of
the females and 15% of the males were
attempting to lose weight, and 28% of the males
were attempting to gain weight by building
muscles
50% of American women are on a diet at any
one time
Between 90% and 99% of fat reducing diets fail
to produce permanent weight loss
2/3 of dieters will regain the weight within a year.
Virtually all will regain it within five years
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Eating Disorders
There are three main types of eating
disorders:
Bulimia
Anorexia
Binge Eating
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Characteristics of Bulimia
Frequent episodes of “BINGE-EATING
A rapid and sometimes automatic consumption
of food in a discrete period of time
A feeling of LACK OF CONTROL
Powerlessness felt during the binge, often
followed by an anxiety about anticipated weight
gain and mood swings
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Characteristics of Bulimia
Recurrent “PURGING
Attempts to undo the effect of the binge by dangerous
methods like self-induced vomiting, diet pills, excessive
exercise, and/or laxatives or diuretics
Frequent, intense, and DISTORTED
CONCERNS ABOUT SHAPE AND WEIGHT
Including: a conviction that body shape and weight are
crucial factors determining self-esteem, and a strong
drive for thinness and a fear of fat.
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Warning Signs of Bulimia
The chances of recovery increase the
earlier Bulimia is detected. Therefore it is
important to be aware of some of the
warning signs--you could be in the position
to really help someone!
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Warning Signs of Bulimia
Possible evidence of BINGE-EATING:
Appears to eat large amounts of food (esp. high
calorie food) without gaining weight
Large amounts of food purchased or shop-lifted
Evidence of SELF-INDUCED VOMITING:
Catching the person in the act
Leaves the table immediately after eating and
goes to the bathroom. Glands under the jaw
are swollen.
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Warning signs of Bulimia
Evidence of PURGING:
Enthusiastic discussion of ways to eat a lot
without gaining any weight. Possession of large
amounts of laxatives or diuretics
Unexplainable paleness and complaints of
dizziness
Decaying teeth
Unexplainable muscle cramps, or heart and
kidney problems that are unusual for teenagers
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Unhealthy body image can start at an
early age.
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Anorexia Nervosa
1% of female adolescents
One of the most common psychiatric
diagnosis in young women
5-20% of individuals struggling with
anorexia will die
One of the highest death rates of any
mental condition
Weight loss is 15% or greater below the
expected weight
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Anorexia Nervosa Characteristics
Extreme and irrational fear of becoming
fat
Strong determination to become
increasingly thinner
Significant weight loss
Distorted perception of body shape
It's an attempt to use food and weight to
deal with emotional problems.
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Why do people get Anorexia?
Culture. Women in the U.S. are under
constant pressure to fit a certain ideal of
beauty. Seeing images of flawless, thin
females everywhere makes it hard for
women to feel good about their bodies.
More and more, men are also feeling
pressure to have a perfect body.
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Why do people get Anorexia?
Families. If you have a mother or sister
with anorexia, you are more likely to
develop the disorder. Parents who think
looks are important, diet themselves, or
criticize their children's bodies are more
likely to have a child with anorexia.
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Why do people get Anorexia?
Life changes or stressful events. Traumatic
events or stressful things like starting a new job,
can lead to the onset of anorexia.
Personality traits. Someone with anorexia may
not like her or himself, hate the way she or he
looks, or feel hopeless. She or he often sets
hard-to-reach goals for her or himself and tries
to be perfect in every way.
Biology. Genes, hormones, and chemicals in
the brain may be factors in developing anorexia.
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Problems caused by Anorexia
Girls with anorexia usually stop having
menstrual periods.
People with anorexia have dry skin and
thinning hair on the head. They may have
a growth of fine hair all over their body.
They may feel cold all the time, and they
may get sick often.
People with anorexia are often in a bad
mood.
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Problems with Anorexia
They have a hard time concentrating and are
always thinking about food.
It is not true that anorexics are never hungry.
Actually, they are always hungry. Feeling hunger
gives them a feeling of control over their lives
and their bodies. It makes them feel like they are
good at something--they are good at losing
weight.
People with severe anorexia may be at risk of
death from starvation.
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What is the treatment for Anorexia?
Treatment of anorexia is difficult, because
people with anorexia believe there is
nothing wrong with them.
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What is the treatment for Anorexia?
Patients in the early stages of anorexia
(less than 6 months or with just a small
amount of weight loss) may be
successfully treated without having to be
admitted to the hospital.
But for successful treatment, patients must
want to change and must have family and
friends to help them.
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What is the treatment for Anorexia?
People with more serious anorexia need
care in the hospital, usually in a special
unit for people with anorexia and bulimia.
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What is the treatment for Anorexia?
Treatment involves more than changing
the person's eating habits.
Anorexic patients often need counseling
for a year or more so they can work on
changing the feelings that are causing
their eating problems. These feelings may
be about their weight, their family
problems or their problems with self-
esteem.
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What is the treatment for Anorexia?
Some anorexic patients are helped by
taking medicine that makes them feel less
depressed. These medicines are
prescribed by a doctor and are used along
with counseling.
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How can family and friends help?
The most important thing that family and
friends can do to help a person with
anorexia is to love them.
People with anorexia feel safe, secure and
comfortable with their illness. Their biggest
fear is gaining weight, and gaining weight
is seen as loss of control.
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How can family and friends help?
They may deny they have a problem.
People with anorexia will beg and lie to
avoid eating and gaining weight, which is
like giving up the illness.
Family and friends should not give in to
the pleading of the anorexic patient
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What should I do if I think someone I
know has Anorexia?
Set a time to talk. Set aside a time to talk
privately with your friend. Make sure you talk in a
quiet place where you won't be distracted.
Tell your friend about your concerns. Be
honest. Tell your friend about your worries about
her or his not eating or over exercising. Tell your
friend you are concerned and that you think
these things may be a sign of a problem that
needs professional help.
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What should I do if I think someone I
know has Anorexia?
Ask your friend to talk to a professional. Your
friend can talk to a counselor or doctor who
knows about eating issues. Offer to help your
friend find a counselor or doctor and make an
appointment, and offer to go with her or him to
the appointment.
Avoid conflicts. If your friend won't admit that
she or he has a problem, don't push. Be sure to
tell your friend you are always there to listen if
she or he wants to talk.
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What should I do if I think someone I
know has Anorexia?
Don't place shame, blame, or guilt on your
friend. Don't say, "You just need to eat."
Instead, say things like, "I'm concerned about
you because you won't eat breakfast or lunch."
Or, "It makes me afraid to hear you throwing up."
Don't give simple solutions. Don't say, "If
you'd just stop, then things would be fine!"
Let your friend know that you will always be
there no matter what.
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Binge Eating Disorder
A newly recognized condition that
probably affects millions of Americans.
People with binge eating disorder
frequently eat large amounts of food while
feeling a loss of control over their eating.
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How Does Someone Know if He or She
Has Binge Eating Disorder?
Eating large amounts of food, however,
does not mean that a person has binge
eating disorder.
Doctors are still debating the best ways to
determine if someone has binge eating
disorder.
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How Does Someone Know if He or She
Has Binge Eating Disorder?
Frequent episodes of eating what others
would consider an abnormally large
amount of food.
Frequent feelings of being unable to
control what or how much is being eaten.
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How Does Someone Know if He or She
Has Binge Eating Disorder?
Several of these behaviors or feelings:
Eating much more rapidly than usual.
Eating until uncomfortably full.
Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically
hungry.
Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of
food being eaten.
Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after overeating.
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How Common is Binge Eating
Disorder, and Who is at Risk?
Most common eating disorder.
Most people with binge eating disorder are obese (more
than 20 percent above a healthy body weight), but
normal-weight people also can be affected.
Affects 2 percent of all adults, or about 1 million to 2
million Americans.
Among mildly obese people in self-help or commercial
weight loss programs, 10 to 15 percent have binge
eating disorder. The disorder is even more common in
those with severe obesity.
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How Common is Binge Eating
Disorder, and Who is at Risk?
Slightly more common in women, with three
women affected for every two men.
Affects blacks as often as whites; its frequency
in other ethnic groups is not yet known.
Obese people with binge eating disorder often
became overweight at a younger age than those
without the disorder. May have more frequent
episodes of losing and regaining weight (yo-yo
dieting).
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What is the cause of Binge Eating?
Unknown
Up to half of all people with binge eating
disorder have a history of depression.
Whether depression is a cause or effect of
binge eating disorder is unclear.
Many people report that anger, sadness,
boredom, anxiety or other negative
emotions can trigger a binge episode.
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What is the cause of Binge Eating?
Dieting's effect on binge eating disorder is
also unclear. While findings vary, early
research suggests that about half of all
people with binge eating disorder had
binge episodes before they started to diet.
Strict dieting may worsen binge eating in
some people.
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What is the cause of Binge Eating?
Researchers also are looking into how
brain chemicals and metabolism (the way
the body burns calories) affect binge
eating disorder. These areas of research
are still in the early stages.
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What are the Complications of Binge
Eating Disorder?
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels,
Gallbladder disease
Heart disease
Certain types of cancer
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What Treatment is Available for People
With Binge Eating Disorder?
Several studies have found that people with
binge eating disorder may find it harder than
other people to stay in weight loss treatment.
Binge eaters also may be more likely to regain
weight quickly. For these reasons, people with
the disorder may require treatment that focuses
on their binge eating before they try to lose
weight.
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What Treatment is Available for People
With Binge Eating Disorder?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches
patients techniques to monitor and change
their eating habits as well as to change the
way they respond to difficult situations.
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What Treatment is Available for People
With Binge Eating Disorder?
Interpersonal psychotherapy helps
people examine their relationships with
friends and family and to make changes in
problem areas.
Treatment with medications such as
antidepressants may be helpful for some
individuals.
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What Treatment is Available for People
With Binge Eating Disorder?
Self-help groups also may be a source of
support.
Researchers are still trying to determine
which method or combination of methods
is the most effective in controlling binge
eating disorder.
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