Eating Disorder - Types, Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

Eating disorders are a common problem, yet they often go unnoticed, undiagnosed or untreated. Many myths surround eating disorders, the most popular being that they only affect young women and can be easily dealt with.

Types Of Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

The sufferer shows a desperate fear of weight gain and a desire to be abnormally thin, and severely restricts her diet in an attempt to achieve this. Some sufferers also use excessive exercise and sometimes self-induced vomiting as a means of weight control. This behaviour leads to a wide variety of harmful physical and psychological consequences and can be life-threatening; in fact anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychological illness.

Bulimia Nervosa

People with bulimia nervosa consume large amounts of food and then rid their bodies of the excess calories by vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics, taking enemas, or exercising obsessively. Some use a combination of all these forms of purging. Because many individuals with bulimia "binge and purge" in secret and maintain normal or above normal body weight, they can often successfully hide their problem from others for years.

Symptoms Of Eating Disorders

Mental and Emotionalnn • preoccupation with body appearance or weight

• moodiness, irritability, confusion or shakiness

• reduced concentration, memory, and thinking ability

Other signs and symptomsnn • Preoccupation with weight, diet, food, and calories.

• Cooking for others (may or may not eat what they make)

• Consumption of large amounts of no-calorie foods (gum, coffee, diet drinks, etc.)

• Irregular or absent menstrual cycles

Causes Of Eating Disorder

Certain psychological factors predispose people to developing eating disorder. Dysfunctional families or relationships are one factor. Personality traits also may contribute to these disorders. Most people with eating disorders suffer from low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, and intense dissatisfaction with the way they look.

Eating disorders appear to run in families--with female relatives most often affected. This finding suggests that genetic factors may predispose some people to eating disorders; however, other influences--both behavioral and environmental--may also play a role. One recent study found that mothers who are overly concerned about their daughters' weight and physical attractiveness may put the girls at increased risk of developing an eating disorder.

Treatment For Eating Disorder

Psychotherapy as treatment for eating disorder

Forming a trusting relationship with a therapist allows complex issues to be addressed, such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, difficulties with interpersonal relationships, body image concerns, and identity formation. Practitioners may use a particular type of therapy, or a combination of several different approaches.

Medical treatment for eating disorders

Many physical complications can result from an eating disorder. Left unattended, eating disorders can lead to serious health problems or even death. It is important for a medical practitioner with experience in the area of eating disorders to monitor your physical health. Generally, physical complications of an eating disorder will resolve, once healthy eating and normal weight have been achieved.