Overview

An eating disorder is a compulsion to eat, or avoid eating, that negatively affects both one's physical and mental health. Eating disorders are all encompassing. They affect every part of the person's life. According to the authors of Surviving an Eating Disorder, "feelings about work, school, relationships, day-to-day activities and one's experience of emotional well being are determined by what has or has not been eaten or by a number on a scale." Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders generally recognized by medical classification schemes, with a significant diagnostic overlap between the two. Together, they affect an estimated 5-7% of females in the United States during their lifetimes. There is a third type of eating disorder currently being investigated and defined - Binge Eating Disorder. This is a chronic condition that occurs when an individual consumes huge amounts of food during a brief period of time and feels totally out of control and unable to stop their eating. It can lead to serious health conditions such as morbid obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Friday, January 23, 2009

An Overview Of The Three Main Eating Disorders - Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia And Binge Eating

Eating disorders have become a much stronger since the 1970s. An eating disorder is basically a condition characterized by an obsessive-and long-term negative correlation with food or body image. It is difficult to see why more and more eating disorders, but many people point the finger at the media, has the level of body awareness and objectification in society. An eating disorder is likely to develop in about 10 to 15 percent of all adolescents and young women in the United States. Although eating disorders are usually referred to as a female disease, it is also true that men can develop them as well, although it is much less common. Weight-conscious athletes are particularly vulnerable. Let us have a look at the three main types of eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa

Who suffers from anorexia nervosa has an obsessive desire to be thin. They are all that is needed to achieve this goal, even to the point of starving themselves. About 95 percent of anorexia patients are women, and a high proportion of them are teenagers and young women from middle-and upper-class economic and social background. They often suffer from extreme feelings of self-loathing and self-esteem. Often the obsession with her weight to other areas of their lives, including the compulsive behavior in school, relationships and work. You may also obsessive and demanding exercise routines. Unfortunately, since the weight loss progresses, other health conditions surface. This may be in poor general health, susceptibility to colds, Bouts of constipation, fatigue, weakness and lightheadedness, abdominal cramps and a lower level of potassium. Some patients may lose 25 percent or more of their body weight.

bulimia

in a similar manner as in patients with anorexia, bulimia sufferers have an overwhelming obsession with their bodies. They indulge in "binge-eating episodes, and then vomiting, then get rid of all the food. They are fighting for food in a normal pattern. It is usual for bulimic patients with anorexia have in the past, or the condition for Progress in anorexia. bulimic patients, however, are usually normal weight. If they are binging, a bulimia sufferer can eat, how can the 15,000 to 20,000 calories in one period. This can lead to extreme and intense mood swings, alternating between enthusiasm a deep depression very quickly. The binging, followed by intense shame and guilt for what they have done. This leads to the sufferer sinks of food from the system as quickly as possible, by vomiting.

Binge Eating

Although the two already discussed eating disorders are the most well known are, Binge Eating Disorder can be just as harmful. A sufferer of binge eating disorder will eat food high to an excessive level. It is usual for those affected much more than the average overweight person. This kind of food is often associated with depression, and is a form of emotional eating. It can usually be treated with reasonable success of psychotherapy and antidepressants.

 

For more helpful and important information on the signs of anorexia, types of eating disorders and what causes anorexia please visit Coping-With-Eating-Disorders.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman

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