Eating Disorders Chapter 16

Eating Disorders Many young females, especially athletes suffer from eating disorders The cause varies but includes sociocultural, psychological, and perhaps neurochemical factors

Athlete Eating Disorders Disordered eating habits can develop due to: Desire to improve performance Enhance aesthetic appeal of their performance Desire to meet unsuitable weight requirements

Athlete Eating Disorders Preventing Eating Disorders in athletes: Follow the Food Guide Pyramid Eat frequently, especially healthy snacks Establish reasonable weight goal Allow reasonable time to achieve goal weight Weight maintenance support group

Anorexia Nervosa Characteristics: Role of family-inability to resolve family conflicts Self-starvation-tremendous self-control to limit eating Great physical consequences-life-threatening

Anorexia Nervosa Treatment is multidisciplinary: Medical-stabilize patient and provide nutrition when 75% below ideal body weight and-or have electrolyte imbalance Mental health-establish positive relationships with self and others Work to repair cognitive distortions

Bulimia Nervosa Characteristics: Role of family-unresolved family issues Binge eating-lack of control over eating, excessive kcalories from high-fat, low-fiber and high-carbohydrate foods at once Purging after binge-laxatives and/or emetics

Bulimia Nervosa Treatment: Weight maintenance Regular exercise Counseling

Binge-Eating Disorder Unspecified eating disorder sharing some of the characteristics of anorexia and bulimia yet does not meet criteria for diagnosis Lack of self-control over eating binges Consuming large quantities of food, eating quickly, feeling uncomfortably full, eating alone, feelings of guilt and disgust after eating

Binge-Eating Disorder Marked distress about weight or eating Occurrence of two times per week for six months Eating disorders occur more commonly in developed nations where food and money are plentiful. Learning to appreciate the uniqueness of oneself may be the key to defense.