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.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Emotional Eating Disorder Research

Emotional eating disorder research is providing professionals with key indicators that may forecast those individuals that are susceptible to this disease. Focusing on individual's negative emotions and how they typically react to those emotions, researchers have been able to confront and prevent early onset of eating disorder behavior. These individuals would then learn new more appreciate methods of adjusting to these negative emotions and continue with the therapeutic process to oversee progress or the lack of progress.

Emotional eating disorder research would develop an emotional picture that shows the specific situations or triggers shared by targeted individuals confronting negative emotions. The profile would include both persons at risk as well as those already diagnosed with an eating disorder. Researchers studied both positive and negative emotions and concluded it was the emotions of anxiety, low self-esteem and early onset depression that influenced weight gain and diet control. Researchers also looked at the individual's ability of expression and the accuracy in describing these emotions.

The research shows a profile of those at greater risk at contracting an eating disorder. The emotional state coupled with a person's inability to express themselves or accurately perceive the reality of the situation when faced with anxiety or low self-esteem will lead to negative behavior. If the stressor is associated with diet or body shape then the sufferer will most probably develop an eating disorder.

The increase in admissions to eating disorder treatment centers has multiplied in recent years with pre-teens leading and sixty plus women a close second. Use this research should be taken into account when developing a prevention program. Today's professionals need all the help they can get in addressing this deadly disease.



Autor: Dan B. Clark

Dan C's career in the addiction field spans twenty-five years. He has held positions in all phases of administration and clinical services in Treatment Facilities throughout the state of Florida. He is currently employed by http://www.recoveryconnection.org


Added: June 14, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Posted by admin at 11:38 AM

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