Anorexia NervosaAnorexia Nervosa

SymptomsSymptoms• Refusal to maintain healthy body Refusal to maintain healthy body

weightweight

• Fear of weight gainFear of weight gain

• Denial of weight problemsDenial of weight problems

• Loss of menstrual cycleLoss of menstrual cycle

• Negative self evaluationsNegative self evaluations

• Self-starvationSelf-starvation

Anorexia Nervosa: SignsAnorexia Nervosa: Signs• Dramatic weight lossDramatic weight loss

• Preoccupied with foodPreoccupied with food

• Withdraw from normal activitiesWithdraw from normal activities

• Comments: “I feel fat”Comments: “I feel fat”

• Anxiety and DenialAnxiety and Denial

• Develops food ritualsDevelops food rituals

• Excessive exerciseExcessive exercise

Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia Nervosa: ConsequencesConsequences•Slow heart rate + low blood pressure=Slow heart rate + low blood pressure=

HEART FAILUREHEART FAILURE

• Reduction of bone density= Reduction of bone density= OSTEOPOROSISOSTEOPOROSIS

• Severe dehydration= KIDNEY FAILURESevere dehydration= KIDNEY FAILURE

• FAINTING, FATIGUE & WEAKNESSFAINTING, FATIGUE & WEAKNESS

• LOSS OF HAIR & DRY SKINLOSS OF HAIR & DRY SKIN

• LANUGOLANUGO

Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia Nervosa: StatisticsStatistics• 90-95% anorexics are women90-95% anorexics are women

• One of the most common psychiatric One of the most common psychiatric diagnoses among womendiagnoses among women

• 5-20% of victims will die5-20% of victims will die

• One of the highest death rates among One of the highest death rates among mental illnessesmental illnesses

• Onsets typically in early to mid-Onsets typically in early to mid-adolescenceadolescence

•Body weight is at least 15% below normalBody weight is at least 15% below normal

Bulimia NervosaBulimia Nervosa• A cycle of binging and compensatory A cycle of binging and compensatory

behaviors (vomiting or laxative abuse) behaviors (vomiting or laxative abuse) attempting to undo binge eatingattempting to undo binge eating

Symptoms

• -Binging

• -Vomiting, laxatives or excessive exercise

• -Obsession with body weight or shape

•-Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals

Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia Nervosa: Signs

• -Large food intake in short period of time

• -The need to “burn off” all calories

• -Swelling of cheeks or jaw• -Calluses on backs of hands

• -Discoloration of teeth• -Complex lifestyle structures to

make time for binging and purging

• -Withdraw from regular activities • -Obsessed with food issues

Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia Nervosa: ConsequencesConsequences

• -ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE: loss of potassium and sodium

• -IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS• -POSSIBLE HEART FAILURE OR DEATH

• -INFLAMMATION/ RUPTURE OF ESOPHAGUS

• -TOOTH DECAY: from stomach acid• -CHRONIC/ IRREGULAR BOWEL MOVEMENTS: from laxative abuse

• -GASTRIC RUPTURE

Bulimia Nervosa: StatisticsBulimia Nervosa: Statistics

•-Approximately 80% of bulimia nervosa patients are female

•-Bulimics will often appear to be of average body weight.

•-Many people struggling with bulimia nervosa recognize that their behaviors are unusual and

perhaps dangerous to their health.

•-Bulimia nervosa is associated with depression and changes in

social adjustment.

Binge Eating Disorder Binge Eating Disorder

• An eating disorder not An eating disorder not otherwise specified and is otherwise specified and is characterized by recurrentcharacterized by recurrent

binge eating without the regular binge eating without the regular use of compensatory measures use of compensatory measures

to counter the binge eating.to counter the binge eating.

Binge Eating Disorder Binge Eating Disorder SymptomsSymptoms

-Eating large quantities of food in short -Eating large quantities of food in short periods of timeperiods of time

-Feeling out of control over eating behavior. -Feeling out of control over eating behavior.

-Feeling ashamed or disgusted by the -Feeling ashamed or disgusted by the behavior. behavior.

-Behavioral indicators of BED: eating when -Behavioral indicators of BED: eating when not hungry and eating in secret. not hungry and eating in secret.

Binge Eating Disorder Binge Eating Disorder ConsequencesConsequences

-The health risks of BED are most -The health risks of BED are most commonly those associated with commonly those associated with clinical obesity. clinical obesity.

-High blood pressure -High blood pressure

-High cholesterol levels -High cholesterol levels

-Heart disease -Heart disease

-Diabetes mellitus -Diabetes mellitus

-Gallbladder disease-Gallbladder disease

Binge Eating Disorder Binge Eating Disorder About Binge Eating Disorder:About Binge Eating Disorder:

--The prevalence of BED is estimated to be The prevalence of BED is estimated to be approximately 1-5% of the general population. approximately 1-5% of the general population.

-Binge eating disorder affects women slightly more -Binge eating disorder affects women slightly more often than men--estimates indicate that about 60% of often than men--estimates indicate that about 60% of

people struggling with binge eating disorder are people struggling with binge eating disorder are female, 40% are male.female, 40% are male.

-People who struggle with binge eating disorder can be -People who struggle with binge eating disorder can be of normal or heavier than average weight. of normal or heavier than average weight.

-BED is often associated with symptoms of depression. -BED is often associated with symptoms of depression. -People struggling with BED often express distress, -People struggling with BED often express distress,

shame, and guilt over their eating behaviors.shame, and guilt over their eating behaviors.

What Causes Eating Disorders?What Causes Eating Disorders?Psychological Factors :Psychological Factors : –Low self-esteem Low self-esteem -Feelings of inadequacy or lack of control in life -Feelings of inadequacy or lack of control in life -Depression, anxiety, anger, or loneliness-Depression, anxiety, anger, or loneliness

Interpersonal Factors :Interpersonal Factors :-Troubled family and personal relationships -Troubled family and personal relationships -Difficulty expressing emotions and feelings -Difficulty expressing emotions and feelings -History of being teased or ridiculed based on size or weight -History of being teased or ridiculed based on size or weight -History of physical or sexual abuse-History of physical or sexual abuse

Social Factors :Social Factors :-Cultural pressures that glorify "thinness" and place value on -Cultural pressures that glorify "thinness" and place value on obtaining the "perfect body" obtaining the "perfect body" -Narrow definitions of beauty that include only women and men -Narrow definitions of beauty that include only women and men of specific body weights and shapes of specific body weights and shapes -Cultural norms that value people on the basis of physical -Cultural norms that value people on the basis of physical appearance and not inner qualities and strengthsappearance and not inner qualities and strengths

How to Help a Friend:How to Help a Friend:• Discuss your intentions with a counselor or family physician and Discuss your intentions with a counselor or family physician and

get their advice. get their advice. • Plan the intervention carefully: who should be there, what you'll Plan the intervention carefully: who should be there, what you'll

say, what time and place say, what time and place • Be able to give specific examples of his/her behavior that concern Be able to give specific examples of his/her behavior that concern

you. you. • Don't criticize, accuse, or dwell on appearance/weight (you might Don't criticize, accuse, or dwell on appearance/weight (you might

inadvertently reinforce the disorder!) inadvertently reinforce the disorder!) • Use "I" statements such as "I'm really concerned that you don't Use "I" statements such as "I'm really concerned that you don't

seem to eat during meals"  seem to eat during meals"  • You may notice resistance or denial of the problem. You may notice resistance or denial of the problem. • Acknowledge his/her fears Acknowledge his/her fears • Avoid giving simple solutions ("If you'd just stop, everything would Avoid giving simple solutions ("If you'd just stop, everything would

be fine!") be fine!") • Encourage professional help. You should have resource phone Encourage professional help. You should have resource phone

numbers ready. numbers ready. • Show caring and continued friendship (don't threaten to withdraw Show caring and continued friendship (don't threaten to withdraw

your friendship if they don't get help). your friendship if they don't get help). • Keep trying. You never know at what moment they may be more Keep trying. You never know at what moment they may be more

receptive to getting help. receptive to getting help. • Educate yourself about eating disorders first, that way, if they Educate yourself about eating disorders first, that way, if they

have questions, you can help answer them. have questions, you can help answer them. • Get support for yourself.Get support for yourself.

Get Real.Get Real. Get Real Expectations. Get Real Information. Get Real Expectations. Get Real Information. Get Real Help.Get Real Help.

1. Create a list of all the things you like about who you are -

read it and add to it often.2. Don’t let your weight or shape keep you from participating

in activities that you enjoy.3. Become aware of what your body helps you do each day.

Remember that it is the instrument of your life, not just an ornament

4. Think about all of the things you could accomplish with the time and energy you currently waste worrying about your appearance. Try one!

5. Don’t exercise to lose weight or to fight your body. Do it to make your body healthy and strong and because it makes you feel good.

6. Remind yourself: Life is too short to waste time hating your body!

7. Consciously choose to avoid making comments about other people or yourself on the basis of body size or appearance.

8. Enjoy your favorite meal without feelings of guilt or anxiety over calories and fat grams.

9. Throw out the diet products in your house (e.g. fat-free cheese, diet pills, the scale).

10. Eat when you are hungry. Rest when you are tired. Surround yourself with people that remind you of your inner strength and beauty.