| Anorexia and Bulimia |
|
| What is an Eating Disorder? It is difficult to give an accurate definition of what an eating disorder actually is. Textbooks and studies alike each give their own unique interpretation of it… some call it a disease, a problem caused by the media, a hormone deficiency. Outwardly their problem may seem a physical one, an anorectic may lose a vast amount of weight, they may pick at their foods, refuse meals, become withdrawn, tired and if female, lose their periods. However like all disorders, there is a cause for it. There has been extensive research into eating disorders, linking it into genes, hormones and other deficiencies. I am not going to disprove any of it, I have not researched into it, and I am not a scientist. However my personal view of it is that it is purely a psychological problem. Quoted from Anna Patterson’s biography, “We are not born with anorexia.” This may then provoke the question, “Well then why do some people develop eating disorder’s while other’s don’t?” There is no clear answer to that question. The social theory suggests that it is the environment we are brought up in, that dictates who we develop in to. So then why may one sibling have an eating disorder while the other doesn’t? Good question, but that is most likely due to our innate personality traits. Some of us are perfectionists… some of us are exceptionally sensitive. I do not intend, nor can I claim to explain the in’s and out’s of eating disorder’s. I can only give you an insight of what they are, theories of how they come about, and treatment plans that have helped sufferers. I hope you find the following information useful, if you have any suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me. What is Anorexia? Dictionary definition ~ “Loss of appetite for food” Strictly speaking this is true to some extent… after a while, the anorectic does lose his/her appetite for food. However this is not what anorexia is. Anorexia is an eating disorder that usually follows a path of self-starvation, leading to extreme loss of weight and many severe physical problems. A sufferer does not have to be a stereotypical young, white, thin female. He/she can be male or female, black or white, underweight or overweight, young or old. According to DSM-IV anorexia is characterised by five main points, these are as follows: ~ Refusal to maintain body weight above a minimal normal weight for height, body type, age and activity level. ~ Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat.” ~ Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight-loss. ~ Loss of menstrual periods in girls and women post-puberty. ~ Extreme concern with body weight and shape. Generally, the sooner anorexia is detected, the higher the chances of recovery. This means it is therefore important to recognise the signs, and get help as soon as possible. There are many signs that anorexic’s show, but you do not need to have all of them to be diagnosed as an anorectic. The signs are as follows: ~ Dramatic weight loss. ~ Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams and dieting. ~ Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food. (For example no carbohydrates or fat etc.) ~ Frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight, despite weight loss. ~ Anxiety about gaining weight or being “fat.” ~ Denial of hunger. ~ Development of food rituals. (For example eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate.) ~ Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food. ~ Excessive, rigid exercise regimen ~ despite weather, fatigue, illness or injury. ~ Withdrawal from usual friends and activities. ~ In general, behaviours and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting and control of food are becoming primary concerns. Anorexia causes many severe physical problems, which can all be fatal. Even if you feel fine, it doesn’t mean your body is. The body is being deprived of the essential nutrients it desperately needs to function normally. It therefore is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy. This “slowing down,” can have serious medical consequences. These consequences are as follows: ~ Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. ~ The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower. ~ Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones. ~ Muscle loss and weakness. ~ Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure. ~ Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness. ~ Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common. ~ Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face; in an effort to keep the body warm. Bulimia Nervosa Dictionary definition ~ The Latin meaning of which is “ox hunger” Bulimia is an eating disorder that has similar psychological traits to anorexia, but the disorder itself is different. There are two types of bulimia, the purging and the non-purging type. The purging type binges on food, and then uses inappropriate methods to get rid of the food, including vomiting or taking overdoses of laxatives, diet pills or even enema’s. The non-purging type binges on food, and then self starves for a period of time to lose the weight put on by the bingeing. Both methods are dangerous, and can lead to death in some circumstances. Bulimia nervosa, according to the DSM-IV has three primary symptoms. These are as follows: Eating large quantities of food in short periods of time, often secretly. This is without feelings of “hunger” or “fullness,” and to the point of feeling out of control while eating. Following these binges, the person will then use some form of purging or compensatory behaviour to make up for the excessive calories taken in. This can be self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, fasting and/or compulsive exercise. Extreme concern with body weight and shape. Like anorexia, the chances for recovery greatly increase the sooner the disorder is detected in the individual. It is important also to recognise the signs and symptoms of someone developing or suffering from bulimia. The signs are as follows: ~ Evidence of binge eating, including the disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time. ~ Also the existence of wrappers and containers indicating the consumption of large amounts of food. ~ Evidence of purging behaviours, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics. ~ Excessive rigid exercise regimen ~ despite weather, fatigue, illness or injury. ~ Unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area. ~ Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self-induced vomiting. ~ Discoloration or staining of the teeth. ~ Creation of complex lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge/purge sessions. ~ Withdrawal from usual friends or activities. ~ In general, behaviours and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting and control of food are becoming primary concerns. It is also important to realise that bulimia has severe physical side effects. Problems aren’t always obvious, which it is why it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible, because many of them are irreversible. The recurrent binge/purge cycles can impact the entire digestive system, which can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body, which especially affect the heart and other major body organs. Some health consequences are as follows: Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats, possibly heart failure and death. This is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium and sodium from the body as a result of purging behaviours. Potential for gastric rupture during periods of bingeing. Inflammation and possible rupture of the oesophagus from frequent vomiting. Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting. Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse. Peptic ulcers and pancreatis. Binge Eating / Compulsive Overeating Many people do not consider these to be eating disorders, because the person does not actively take measures to lose weight. They may frequently diet, but are addicted to binge/over eating. What is the difference between the two? They are very similar, but binge eating means that a person will eat more than a “normal,” amount of food within a space of time, usually as an emotional response to something. These binge episodes may happen once or twice a week, or even more than once a day. Compulsive over eating is more like comfort eating, and not as “violent.” The person may simply eat throughout the day, and may not be aware of hunger. The person will most likely indulge in high calorie/fat foods, and may also have an alcohol problem. In accordance with this, the person will have a lack of self-esteem, and may feel they are worthless because they cannot stop eating. They may be overweight, and seek to lose weight, but are unable to do so because of the addiction to binge eating. Binge eating/ compulsive overeating has medical complications, other than weight gain. The fatty foods can raise cholesterol levels in the blood stream, which may lead to clogged arteries, and can cause heart problems, even heart attacks. The person will have decreased energy levels, and will feel worn out after small amounts of exercise. |
 |
 |