Eating disorders: causes, symptoms, and treatment approaches

Eating Disorders

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, eating disorders are "complex, chronic illnesses largely misunderstood and misdiagnosed." (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women's Health, 2000) Included among the most common eating disorders are:

Anorexia nervosa;

Bulimia nervosa; and 3) Binge eating disorder. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women's Health, 2000)

The American Psychiatric Association (2005) defines eating disorders as illnesses in which the victims suffer severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions." Individuals with eating disorders have an obsession with their body and with food and specifically in relation to their weight and weight-gain issues.

Eating disorders have been found in studies to be linked to other health risk behaviors and according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, those include:

Tobacco use;

Alcohol use;

Marijuana use;

Delinquency;

Unprotected sexual activity; and Suicide. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women's Health, 2000)

The fact is that "anorexia nervosa...ranks as the third most common chronic illness among adolescent females in the United States." (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women's Health, 2000)

Presently, one to four percent of young women in the United States have some type of eating disorder. The effects of eating disorders include:

1) Physical;

2) Psychological; and 3) Social. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women's Health, 2000)

Included in these specifically are significant preoccupation with weight as well as inappropriate eating behavior and distortion of one's body image. (Ibid, 2000; paraphrased) Individuals with eating disorders are known to be "at risk for osteoporosis and heart problems" and furthermore have the highest death rates of any mental illness.

STATEMENT of THESIS

Eating disorders are one of the key issues that young women face in relation to their health and generally take three primary forms.

I. ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Anorexia Nervosa is described as a condition that is dangerous and "...in which people can literally starve themselves to death." (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women's Health, 2000) People with this disorder, while already thin, eat only a very small amount compared to normal people. This disease is stated to be characterized by "...an intense and overpowering fear of body fat and weight gain, repeated dieting attempts, and excessive weight loss." (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women's Health, 2000) These individuals refuse to eat, have a great desire to be thin and many times are known to "...diet, fast, or over exercise" in order to stay very thin.

The American Psychiatric Association states that individuals with anorexia nervosa "tend to be perfectionists who suffer from low self-esteem and are extremely critical of themselves and their bodies." (2005) in fact, these individuals often induce vomiting upon themselves to assist in weight loss and are even known to use laxatives to lose weight. The American Psychological Association states that over a period certain symptoms develop as the body begins to actually starve. Those symptoms are stated to include the following:

Menstrual periods cease;

Osteopenia or osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) through loss of calcium;

Hair/nails become brittle;

Skin dries and can take on a yellowish cast;

Mild anemia and muscles, including the heart muscle, waste away;

Severe constipation;

Drop in blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse rates;

Internal body temperature falls, causing person to feel cold all the time;

Depression, and lethargy. (APA, 2005)

Complications to their health that may be experienced by the individual with anorexia nervosa include an increased risk for development of osteoporosis during times of illness or later in their life and many suffer from clinical depression as well as "anxiety, personality disorders and substance abuse. Additionally, these individuals are at an increased risk for suicide. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that one in ten individuals "afflicted with anorexia nervosa will die of starvation." (2000)

II. BULIMIA NERVOSA

Bulimia Nervosa affected individuals by them following "a routine of secretive, uncontrolled binge eating (ingesting abnormally large amounts of food within a set period of time) followed by behaviors to rid the body of food consumes. This includes self-vomiting and/or the misuse of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics (water pills) excessive exercise or fasting." (2000) the American Psychiatric Association states of individuals with Bulimia Nervosa, that while they may "...may frequently diet and vigorously exercise, individuals with bulimia nervosa can be slightly underweight, normal weight, overweight or even obese." (2005) the individual with this condition will consume an unbelievably high volume of food and do so by eating it quickly and with no enjoyment of eating being experienced. Upon having consumed this great amount of food, the individual with bulimia nervosa will experience guilty and a feeling of being out of control. At this point, the individual with bulimia nervosa will make themselves vomit. This cycle may repeat many times a week or during the month. Generally, the family of these individuals does not know that their loved one is affected by this disorder. The following symptoms have been stated to be associated with this disorder:

Chronically inflamed and sore throat;

Salivary glands in the neck and below the jaw become swollen. Cheeks and face often become puffy, causing sufferers to develop a "chipmunk" looking face;

Tooth enamel wears off, teeth begin to decay from exposure to stomach acids;

Constant vomiting causes gastroesophageal reflux disorder;

Laxative abuse causes irritation, leading to intestinal problems; and Diuretics (water pills) cause kidney problems;

Severe dehydration from purging of fluids (APA, 2005)

Complications that may develop due to bulimia nervosa are those directly due to electrolyte imbalance and loss of potassium "due to vomiting" and include an increased risk for heart attack as well as esophagus inflammation because of vomiting and tooth decay due to the enamel being eroded. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000) Included in complications are clinical depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as problems with drug and alcohol addiction.