Characteristics of major and minor eating disorders

Characteristics of major and minor eating disorders

There are many types of eating disorders. We know best the three major illnesses: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. However, there are many smaller disorders that affect millions of people, such as Prader-Willi syndrome and night eating syndrome. This is a short list of major and minor eating disorders describing symptoms and treatment.

anorexia

A potentially dangerous and life-threatening disease characterized by a person's fear of gaining weight and therefore resorting to self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Anorexia typically occurs in girls during puberty and can carry into adulthood. Some boys and men suffer from anorexia; however, it is more common in women.

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, there are four main symptoms.

* An intense fear of being “fat,” even if they are underweight.

* Resistance to maintain a healthy or average body weight.

* Absence of menstruation in girls and women.

* Poor or distorted body image leading to denial of serious weight loss or low body weight.

When people go hungry, it not only affects their body weight, but also their overall nutritional well-being. Some potential health risks for people with anorexia nervosa include:

* Dry hair and skin

* Severe dehydration leading to kidney failure

* Slow heart rate and low blood pressure

* Fainting, tiredness and weakness

* Osteoporosis

Treatment requires counseling that addresses the underlying psychological factors contributing to the disease. Often a person is treated psychologically, medically and nutritionally. Family and a strong support group are encouraged. Every person is different and treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition.

Bigorexia (muscle dysmorphia)

Typically found in men, particularly bodybuilders or weightlifters, bigorexia is a body image disorder in which the person feels that their body is too small. That's why they spend excessive hours in the gym. Sometimes called “reverse anorexia.” But no matter how tall or muscular a person becomes, they still feel that their body is too small.

There are no real symptoms of bigorexia other than a person's excessive attention to body image. Bigorexia is rarely diagnosed because it is socially acceptable for men to be muscular. Bigorexia may not be as life-threatening as anorexia, but it does pose dangers. Many people with the disease are prone to steroid abuse and in extreme cases; the disorder can affect the person's work and personal life.

Binge eating disorder (compulsive overeating)

A person with binge eating disorder will compulsively overeat without vomiting, abusing laxatives, or exercising excessively to compensate for the large amounts of food they have just consumed.

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, some signs or symptoms of binge eating disorder may include:

* Eating large amounts of food in a short period of time

* Feeling of control over eating behavior

* Feeling ashamed of their behavior

* Sometimes eat in secret

Health problems associated with binge eating disorder are similar to those associated with obesity, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, gallbladder disease, and type 2 diabetes. Mental health problems such as depression and anxiety are usually accompanied by health problems.

Treatment usually includes psychological counseling to determine the underlying causes of the disorder. A strong support system of family and friends is encouraged. It is recommended that overweight people with binge eating disorder try to conquer their demons with psychological, medical, and group help before attempting to lose weight.

bulimia

Bulimia is one of the three major eating disorders. About 80 percent of bulimia patients are women. It is characterized by a person's compulsion to "purge" the food they have just eaten through vomiting, laxative abuse, or excessive exercise.

There are two types of bulimia nervosa, purging and nonpurging. Nonpurgers usually compensate for their overeating with excessive exercise or fasting.

The National Eating Disorder Association lists the three main symptoms of bulimia nervosa as follows:

* Eating large amounts of food regularly with a feeling of losing control over eating behavior.

* Regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, abusing laxatives, or compulsive exercise.

* Extreme concern about body weight and figure.

There are many health problems associated with bulimia. These are usually associated with the method the person chooses to “clean” their food. These can include:

* Inflammation or rupture of the esophagus due to frequent vomiting

* Tooth decay and damage caused by stomach acid.

* Electrolyte imbalances

* Chronic intestinal problems due to laxative abuse.

Depending on the severity, bulimia nervosa can only be treated with detailed psychological and medical advice. Often bulimia is associated with deeper emotional and mental dilemmas.

Night Eating Syndrome (NES)

Night eating syndrome is a relatively new disorder. A person with night eating syndrome often eats large amounts of food after the last meal of the day. Usually just before bed and in the middle of the night. They, in turn, skip breakfast and only start eating at lunchtime. Those with night eating syndrome not only indulge in the occasional midnight snack, they typically consume high-calorie, nutritious foods often during the night.

As a result, night eating syndrome impacts a person's overall emotional well-being, triggering depression, insomnia, and anxiety. Approximately 10 percent of all clinically obese people are believed to have NES.

Because NES is a new disease that is still being studied, there are no specific treatment options available. Some early reports show that the drug Zoloft may be effective in treating the disorder.

Treatment begins with clinical interviews and a few nights in sleep study clinics. Some medications are available, but sleeping pills are not recommended.

Nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder (NS-RED)

Sleep eating disorder is both an eating and a sleeping disorder. Those with a sleep eating disorder eat while asleep and awake. These people will be completely unaware of their behavior and have no memories. They typically consume foods high in fat and high in sugar.

NS-RED often occurs in people who usually diet during the day. It affects around 10 to 15 percent of people with frequent eating disorders. Your body overcompensates at night, when the person's will is weaker, for the lack of food or hunger during the day. Sometimes stress and anxiety can trigger NS-RED. A person often wakes up in front of the refrigerator or with food on their hands and faces.

Orthorexia Nervosa

Orthorexia Nervosa is not yet a state-recognized eating disorder. However, it is becoming more and more recognized. Orthorexia focuses on finding the perfect or pure diet. The person becomes so obsessed with eating nutritious and healthy that they refuse and feel guilty about eating unhealthy foods. They often cut out all sugars and fats from their diet and no longer enjoy the food.

Often, people with orthorexia nervosa isolate themselves because they are so worried about their next healthy meal that they refuse to eat out with friends and family and insist on preparing their own meals. They sometimes reject pharmaceutical treatments and insist on “all natural” remedies for individual illnesses.

Although orthorexia is becoming increasingly popular, it is not considered a clinical disorder and is not diagnosed or treated. Often it can be associated with other medical disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and treated in this way.

Pica

Pica is usually characterized as the persistent eating of non-nutritive substances such as dirt, hair, plastic, paint, and more.

This eating disorder is most common in children. It is considered inappropriate in children over two years of age with average developmental intelligence. It is also the most common eating disorder among people with developmental disabilities. It is sometimes observed in pregnant women who crave dirt or soap to compensate for vitamin deficiencies.

Causes of the disease can be:

* Nutritional deficiencies

* Cultural and family factors

* Emphasize

* Socioeconomic status

* Brain damage

* Pregnancy

Health problems occur when the person ingests infectious or hazardous material. Stones can get stuck in the digestive tract, blocking the intestines and causing constipation. Sharp objects can scratch or cut the esophagus, stomach, or intestinal tract, causing internal infections. There is also a high risk of lead poisoning from eating paint.

Pica in children often goes away on its own. Depending on the person's age and severity, diagnostic psychological counseling is usually recommended. There are very few medical treatment options; However, some believe that those with the disease suffer from reduced dopamine levels and can be treated with dopamine medications.

Prader-Willi syndrome

This is a genetic disorder in which the affected person never feels full. The disease is also accompanied by low muscle tone, short stature, behavioral problems, cognitive disabilities and incomplete sexual development.

Prader-Willi syndrome is caused by a defect in the hypothalamus, which normally registers feelings of hunger. The defect causes the person to never feel full, no matter how much they eat. Ironically, people with Prader-Willi syndrome have to eat less than people of the same age and height because their bodies have less muscle and burn fewer calories.

As a result, people with Prader-Willi syndrome are often overweight and have many of the health risks associated with being overweight, such as heart disease, breathing problems and diabetes. There is no cure for Prader-Willi syndrome. Treatment typically requires an extremely low-calorie diet and very little access to food. Families typically need to install locks on refrigerators and cabinet doors. Often, those diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome also have obsessive-compulsive behavior.

Rumination disorder

People with rumination disorder will voluntarily or involuntarily vomit partially digested food and chew it again. It can be swallowed again or excreted.

According to emedicine.com, rumination is a rare disease, information and many theories come from small individual case studies. Theories include psychosocial factors, cultural, socioeconomic, organic and psychodynamic factors. It is more common in infants and children and usually resolves spontaneously.

Symptoms may include:

* Weight loss

* Bad breath

* Indigestion

* Rough and chapped lips

Health problems and concerns associated with rumination disorder include:

* Caries and erosion

* Damage to the esophagus

* Stomach discomfort

* Aspiration

* Choking

* Pneumonia

* Bad breath

Treatments typically include psychological and medical counseling. In some extreme cases, surgery, gastroesophageal fundoplication, a procedure usually reserved for people with acid reflux, may be used.

Many of these eating disorders are uncommon and can vary in many degrees. Always consult a doctor before treatment or self-diagnosis.

References

Ellis, M.C. (2006, March 28). eMedicine – Eating Disorder: Rumination. WebMD. Retrieved August 15, 2006 from http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic2652.htm

HealthyPlace.com, Inc. (2006). Eating Disorders Community – HealthyPlace.com. Retrieved August 15, 2006 from http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/Eating_Disorders/index.asp

National Eating Disorders Association. (2002). ED Info Index. Retrieved August 15, 2006 from [http://www.edap.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=294]

The Something Fishy eating disorder website. (2006). Retrieved August 15, 2006 from http://www.something-fishy.org/whatarethey/other.php

WebMD, Inc. (2003, October 16). The body's food cycle is disrupted in night feeders. Retrieved August 15, 2006 from http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/75/89780.htm

Inspired by Erin Monaghan