EDs Public Service Pamphlet: Three Eating Disorders

Historical perspective: Although not formally called "eating disorders" until the 20th century, anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating have been recorded for quite some time. Ancient Romans occasionally gorged on food and vomited afterwards. Many religious saints deprived themselves of food as a means of self-abnegation, and anorexia was sometimes called "wasting disease" between the 17th-19th centuries (Deans, 2011). Binge eating is likely the most common of the three major eating disorders.

Biological Basis: There is some controversy over whether there is a biological basis for any of the three major eating disorders. Recent research shows that a hormone called estradiol has been indicted in some adolescent female cases of eating disorders (Grohol, 2010). Estradiol is a type of estrogen that releases into the body around puberty. There may also be a genetic component to eating disorders, as well as a neuropsychological one as well. However, research is varied on whether there are biological causes of eating disorders, or if eating disorders are behavioral or psychological in nature, only.

Causes and Risk Factors: Being female is certainly a risk factor for both anorexia and bulemia, as incidences of eating disorder in women far outnumbers cases of men. In terms of psychological risk factors, they differ depending on the type of eating disorder. With anorexia, sexual inhibition may be a risk factor. Perfectionism has also...

Avoidant personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality, and other disorders may also be risk factors. Causes and risk factors of binge eating are different from anorexia and bulimia, which is why binge eating is sometimes dealt with under the rubric of obesity rather than eating disorder.
Who is at affected: Anorexia and bulimia are more common among young females than any other group. Binge eating can affect anyone.

Symptoms and warning signs: Symptoms of both anorexia and bulimia include body dysmorphia (a warped sense of body; the feeling of being fatter than one actually is); compulsive exercising; and abnormal eating habits. Symptoms of binge eating can be similar to those of bulimia: evidence of food missing from the house; wrappers and packaging; and secret eating.

How is it distinguished from other similar/related conditions: The difference between anorexia and bulimia is that anorexia entails food deprivation. Bulimia entails binge eating, followed by a type of purge (usually vomiting). These eating disorders can be differentiated from normal loss of appetite by the length and duration of the symptoms, as well as the presence of other psychological symptoms. Binge eating is distinguished from bulimia because it does not entail a purge cycle. Sporadic binge eating may not be a sign of an eating disorder.

How is it diagnosed: Diagnosis of anorexia might begin…