Eating Disorders
What is an Eating Disorder?
An eating disorder is a psychiatric illness characterized by an extreme desire to be thin and an intense fear of weight gain. The most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Others types of eating disorders include orthorexia, other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED), avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), pica, rumination disorder, unspecified feeding or eating disorder (UFED), laxative abuse, compulsive exercise.
Symptoms
Anorexia Nervosa
Extremely restricted eating
Extreme thinness (emaciation)
A relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight
Intense fear of gaining weight
Distorted body image, a self-esteem that is heavily influenced by perceptions of body weight and shape, or a denial of the seriousness of low body weight
Bulimia Nervosa
Chronically inflamed and sore throat
Swollen salivary glands in the neck and jaw area
Worn tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth as a result of exposure to stomach acid
Acid reflux disorder and other gastrointestinal problems
Intestinal distress and irritation from laxative abuse
Severe dehydration from purging of fluids
Electrolyte imbalance (too low or too high levels of sodium, calcium, potassium, and other minerals) which can lead to stroke or heart attack
Binge-Eating Disorder
Eating unusually large amounts of food in a specific amount of time, such as a 2-hour period
Eating even when you're full or not hungry
Eating fast during binge episodes
Eating until you're uncomfortably full
Eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment
Feeling distressed, ashamed, or guilty about your eating
Frequently dieting, possibly without weight loss
Eating Disorders Throughout the Lifespan
Symptoms that develop over time
Thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
Mild anemia and muscle wasting and weakness
Brittle hair and nails
Dry and yellowish skin
Growth of fine hair all over the body (lanugo)
Severe constipation
Low blood pressure slowed breathing and pulse
Damage to the structure and function of the heart
Brain damage
Multiorgan failure
Drop in internal body temperature, causing a person to feel cold all the time
Lethargy, sluggishness, or feeling tired all the time
Infertility
Co-Occurring Disorders
Many people with an eating disorders have a coexisting condition such as anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, diabulimia, pregnancy, substance abuse, trauma, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). All conditions should be identified and treated by a professional with expertise in both eating disorders and any other co-occurring condition.
Causes
Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, racial/ethnic backgrounds, body weights, and genders. Eating disorders frequently appear during the teen years or young adulthood but may also develop during childhood or later in life. These disorders affect both genders, although rates among females are higher than among males.
Eating disorders are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors.
Diagnosis
Medical providers or mental health professionals can diagnose eating disorders. They reference the patient's history, symptoms, thought patterns, eating behaviors and an exam.
Listed below are some warning signs:
Change in diet (e.g., eating less, avoiding carbs)
Prefers to eat alone
Takes frequent trips to the bathroom after meals
Physical activity has increased
If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, make an appointment with your child's medical provider.
Treatment
There are many professional who can treat someone with an eating disorder; such as, general practitioners, local doctors, pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, dieticians, nutritionists, social workers, occupational therapists, rehabilitation therapists, and nurses.
Treatment can include medical care, nutrition counseling, and psychotherapy.
Types of Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Evidence-Based Treatment (EBT)
Family-Based Treatment (FBT)
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Psychodynamic Therapy
A doctor may also prescribe medication to treat the eating disorder.
The type of treatment your child receives depends on the type of eating disorder and how severe it is.
Tips for Parents
If you suspect your loved one has an eating disorder, the following guidelines may help.
Get help early - Your child has a higher chance of recovery, if the disorder is caught early. Schedule an appointment with your child's medical provider, and obtain a referral to a mental health professional.
Talk to your child about your concerns - It is important to maintain a caring, calm, and direct manner. Let your child you are there for him/her, and ask them how they are feeling and what he/she wants you to understand. This is the time that your child will need all your love and support.
Accompany your child to all his/her appointments - Eating disorders are not an easy fix - treatments will take time. Ask the provider any questions you may have. Clink on the link below for questions you can ask.
Provide support with school work - Your child may be undergoing many stressors; therefore, pay close attention to your child's school progress. Stay in contact with your child's school and teacher, as they will also provide support during this difficult time.
Be patient and supportive - Make time in your day to talk to your child on how he/she is feeling. Keep a positive attitude and remind your child that you are there for him/her during this difficult time.
Myths and Misunderstandings
As a parent, there is not much I can do to help.
Research continues to consistently find the opposite is true: parental involvement in a child’s eating disorder treatment can increase chances of recovery. Some forms of treatment, like Family-Based Treatment (FBT) (also known as the Maudsley Method), require that parents temporarily take control of the child’s eating and monitor for purging until a healthy weight and regular eating patterns are established. Other loved ones can continue to provide support to the eating disorder sufferer by helping to reduce anxiety over eating and reminding them they are more than their illness. Even if you decide FBT isn’t right for your family, there are still plenty of ways for you to be involved in your child’s or loved one’s treatment
My child is too young to develop an eating disorder.
Eating disorders can develop or re-emerge at any age. Eating disorder specialists are reporting an increase in the diagnosis of children, some as young as five or six. Many eating disorder sufferers report that their thoughts and behaviors started much earlier than anyone realized, sometimes even in early childhood. Picky eating is common in young children, but doesn’t necessarily indicate an eating disorder. Although most people report the onset of their eating disorder in their teens and young adulthood, there is some evidence that people are being diagnosed at younger ages. It’s not clear whether individuals are actually developing eating disorders at younger ages or if an increased awareness of eating disorders in young children has led to improved recognition and diagnosis.
Eating disorders a girl thing.
Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of their gender or sex. Although eating disorders are more common in females, researchers and clinicians are becoming aware of a growing number of males who are seeking help for eating disorders. A 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that up to one-third of all eating disorder sufferers are male. It’s currently not clear whether eating disorders are actually increasing in males or if more males who are suffering are seeking treatment or being diagnosed. Because physicians don’t often think that eating disorders affect males, their disorders have generally become more severe and entrenched at the point of diagnosis. There may be subtle differences in eating disorder thoughts and behaviors in males, who are more likely to be focused on building muscle than on weight loss. They are also more likely to purge via exercise and misuse steroids than females are. Although gay, bisexual, and transgender males are more likely to develop an eating disorder than straight males, the vast majority of male eating disorder sufferers are heterosexual.
Resources
References
What is an Eating Disorder. (2017, February 25). Retrieved from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn