The Types and Causes of Eating Disorders

Anorexia nervosa, which afflicts adolescent and young women, is the relentless pursuit of thinness through self-starvation. Basically, anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder with the main issue a struggle for control and a sense of identity. Many young women affected with this disorder try to make themselves over and to be perfect in the eyes of others, usually parents with extremely high expectations. Even when they are less than ideal body weight for their age, height and body frame; they see themselves as fat when looking in a mirror.

The outstanding characteristic of this disorder is reduced calorie intake. Not only is the amount of food rigidly restricted, but the pattern of eating becomes disorganized in bizarre ways. In contrast to the ordinary dieter, who makes the supreme sacrifice each time she an rejects ice cream sundae or suffers every time she declines her hostess' offer of chocolate cake, the anorectic will insist the she is not hungry, does not need to eat and that not wanting to eat is "normal". In contrast to her emaciated appearance, she is overly active, often exercising religiously for many hours each day or increasing her participation in sports.

She is an overachiever and her parents will describe her as "a real perfectionist". Secondary amenorrhea, the cessation of menstrual periods, may occur not only as a result of psychological stress, but especially because of too little body fat in relation to total body weight. The cessation of menstruation is nature's way of saying, "This body would not be able to carry a baby".

In advanced stages of emaciation, true loss of appetite may result from severe nutritional deficiency, similar to the complete lack of interest in food that occurs in the late stages of starvation during a famine. If such becomes the case, hospitalization may be recommended. Before such an advanced stage of the illness is reached, it is essential that the condition be approached by psychotherapists who specialize in the treatment of eating disorders. Therapy usually involves the family as well as the young woman herself.

Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by compulsively eating large amounts of food very quickly and then getting rid of it by vomiting or using strong laxatives. These episodes of "bingeing and purging" may occur as often as a dozen times a day.

The health risks can be devastating and where signs of the disorder exist, treatment should be sought as promptly as possible. All specialists agree that early treatment of this disorder is essential to recovery because the aberration not only can become a lifelong pattern, but can do irreversible bodily harm if permitted to continue.

Since many bulimics are likely to suffer from depression and obsessive compulsive disorders, psychotherapy may be combined with Prozac. This drug was approved by the FDA in 1994 for treating bulimia because it effectively helps the body produce and maintain adequate levels of serotonin, the natural substance that regulates moods.

Unlike bulimia, binge eating (compulsive eating or eating gone out of control) is not followed by purging but by profound feelings of guilt, shame and distress. This eating disorder, which is far more prevalent than either anorexia or bulimia, is presumed to account for the large number of seriously obese women who repeatedly try to lose weight and fail. Specialists found out that this disorder can be brought under control by medication and a nutritionist developing a personalized regimen of meals that reduce underlying feelings of deprivation and emotional emptiness.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Eating Disorders

Hot Topics In Eating Disorder

    Spiritual Eating Disorders Solutions

    Anorexia and Bulimia are very serious eating disorders that occur when one does not properly relate to food. Eating disorders are serious. They can and do result in physical and emotional turmoil. The...

    Binge Eating - Men Also At Risk

    Binge Eating Disorder affects just about as many men as it does women, even though the stereotype is that eating disorders are thought to be a women's disorder. This stereotype is incorrect. There are...

    Eating Disorders - Bulimia Nervosa Signs

    This is probably a very timely article with famous actress and singer Lindsay Lohan having just revealed that she suffers from the terrible eating disorder, Bulimia Nervosa. In this article we're doin...

    Dangerous Methods of Weight Loss

    Some people will do just about anything to lose weight. Eating disorders have become a very common problem in America. The phrase "dying to be thin" has become more of a literal definition of what peo...

    Eating Disorders - Anorexia

    Anorexia is a very dangerous eating disorder. One in ten cases ends in death. Anorexia is an eating disorder where people starve themselves. This disease usually begins in young people, usually at the...

Most Recent Eating Disorder Supplements

Newly Popular Illness Articles

    What You Need To Know About LASIK Eye Surgery

    LASIK eye surgery is growing more popular on a daily basis as the cost for improving your eyesight through laser vision correction surgery continues to drop. After this surgery and seeing the results ...

    Determining Your Causes Of High Blood Pressure

    If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure it's likely that you suddenly have many questions. Understanding how blood pressure, left untreated, can negatively impact your body is first and fo...

    Hair Loss Due To Various Diseases Or Surgery

    Most times, hair loss is explained in the context of genetics and a change in the hormonal balance of one's body. However, hair loss can also be a symptom of an underlying disease or a result from a s...

    Asthma and Acid Reflux: A Sinister Marriage of Two Diseases

    Asthma is among a number of diseases that have caused great distress and even disabilities to a large number of sufferers worldwide. Now the healthcare community have been noticing a rather consistent...

    3 Main Indicators for Healthy Cholesterol

    First let's find out what is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fatty substance; it's called a lipid, that's produced by the liver. Cholesterol can be found in foods high in saturated fat, like fatty meats...

    Symptoms Of Low Blood Pressure

    Low blood pressure is a condition in which a person's blood pressure is much lower than normal. This can result in symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness or even collapse. Blood pressure that is ...

    Hair Loss As A Result Of Aging

    As one ages, several body changes are common. Hair loss is one age-related change that affects both men and women. If you are experiencing hair that is falling out, age may be the reason. If you want ...

    Drinking Green Tea Might Prevent The Absorption of Cholesterol

    There are many studies being conducted on the effects of drinking green tea and how it can benefit the body. Along with its possible antioxidant qualities, there are also studies pointing to the possi...

    The Benefits Offered By Bladeless LASIK Eye Surgery

    The risks involved in LASIK eye surgery is relatively small compared to other types of surgery. However, there is still a risk which is there because of the use of the blade that is used to cut the fl...

    Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Nearly 50,000 Children Affected In The US

    Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can start as a swollen knuckle or a high fever or an unexplained rash and whatever be the symptoms; arthritis symptoms can cause much confusion in the minds of the patien...

Interesting Today:

Most Recent Eating Disorder Blogs:

Releated to Illness:

Eating Disorder Links: