EATING DISORDER

Eating disorder is a psychological disorder defined by abnormal eating habit that negatively affect a person’s physical as well as emotional health. Obsessions with food, body weight, and body shape may also signal an eating disorder. Three types of eating disorder has been studied; Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa and Binge-eating disorder

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

People with anorexia nervosa may see themselves as overweight or bulky, even when they are dangerously underweight or skinny. They typically weigh themselves repeatedlyand severely limit the amount of food they eat. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder. While many young women and men with this disorder die from complications associated with undernourishment, others die of suicide.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ANOREXIA NERVOSA:

• People with anorexia nervosa may have extremely limited eating and have a strong fear of gaining weight.
• People with anorexia nervosa have a relentless pursuit for skinniness and show unwillingness to maintain a normal, healthy weight.
• People with anorexia nervosa have distorted body image and a self-esteem that is heavily influenced by perceptions of body weight and shape.
• Other symptoms may develop over time, including; thinning of the bones, anemia, weakness, brittle hair/nails, dry/yellowish skin, severe constipation, low blood pressure, decelerated breathing and pulse, reduced function of the heart, brain damage, organ failure, fatigue, sluggishness and infertility.

BULIMIA NERVOSA

People with bulimia nervosa have repeated incidents of eating abnormally large amounts of food and feeling a lack of control over these incidents. This binge-eating is followed by behaviour that compensates for the overeating such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of these behaviours. Contrasting anorexia nervosa, people with bulimia nervosa usually maintain what is considered a healthy or relatively normal weight.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BULIMIA NERVOSA:

• People with bulimia nervosa have persistently swollen and sore throat.
• Due to increased exposure of stomach acid, people with bulimia nervosa have damaged tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive or decayed tooth. They also have acid reflux disorder, intestinal distress and other gastrointestinal problems.
• People with bulimia nervosa have severe dehydration from purging of fluids and electrolyte/metabolite 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

Different from bulimia nervosa, episodes of binge-eating are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting. As a result, people with binge-eating disorder are overweight or obese. Binge-eating is the most common eating disorder.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BINGE – EATING DISORDER:

People with binge-eating disorder eat abnormally large amount of food in a specific time. They tend to eat fast during binge episodes and feel distressed, ashamed, or guilty about their eating habits.

COURSE OF EATING DISORDER:

Eating disorders frequently occur during the teen-age years, but may also develop during babyhood or later in life. Eating disorder affects both genders, although rates among women are 2½ times higher than rates among men.
Young athletes such as gymnasts, runners, body builders, rowers, wrestlers, dancers, and swimmers are especially vulnerable to developing eating disorders. Because these individuals tend to be competitive by nature and their sports engrossment often necessitates the practice of weight restriction.