Eating Disorders Inmaculada Ibanez-Casas, PhD PSY352 – Health Psychology

Recommended reading Applications of Health Psychology to Eating behaviors: Improving Health Through Nutritional Changes.

Learning objectives Health Psychology and eating behaviors Obesity Other eating problems

Learning objectives Health Psychology and eating behaviors Obesity Other eating problems

Health Psychology and Eating Health Psychology = Good nutritional practices + weight control Biopsychosocial approach “Science of healthy eating”: Biopsychosocial influences on food intake Basic components of healthy eating behaviors Ways to avoid unhealthy eating practices

Biopsychosocial approach: Biological factors To continue to live To grow when we are young For energy To repair damaged body tissue To prevent disease

Biopsychosocial approach: Psychological factors Eating = learned behavior Increased intake under emotional states Easing uncomfortable feelings with food (learned) People reward themselves with food

Healthy Eating

Learning objectives Health Psychology and eating behaviors Obesity Other eating problems

Obesity

2+ in 3 adults = overweight or obese. 1+ in 3 adults = obese: 44 millions adults 1+ in 20 adults = extreme obesity. 1 in 3 children/adolescents (ages 6-19) = overweight or obese. 1+ in 6 children/adolescents (ages 6-19) = obese. → Rates TRIPLED over the past 20 years Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2010

Obesity World Map of obesity Obesity data in US The youngest Type II Diabetes

Obesity Primary cause of death : Heart disease Strokes Cancer Type II Diabetes: Blindness Amputations Kidney failure

Teach every child about food Jamie Oliver Chef, activist TED Prize winner

16 Promoting healthy eating Gradual change in eating behaviors Record and evaluation of eating behaviors Retrospective Prospective Compare food record with “Ideal Diet” (i.e. choosemydiet.com)choosemydiet.com Record and evaluation of moods and thoughts One single change at a time Look forward, not back Preventing relapse

Learning objectives Health Psychology and eating behaviors Obesity Other eating problems

Other eating problems: Malnutrition Lack of sufficient nutrients Faulty eating = hypertension, high cholesterol, kidney stones, osteoporosis, gout Related to low income, inadequate education, debilitating health conditions Solutions: economic, political, social, & individual changes

Other eating problems: Anorexia Nervosa Restriction of energy intake: Counts calories or portions carefully Avoid highly caloric food (dairy, meat,wheat,…) Exercises excessively self-induced starvation and excessive weight loss Thin, pale, emaciated Intense fear of gaining weight: obsessed with eating, food and weight Weights repeatedly (10+ times a day!) Disturbance in self-perception feels fat Social withdrawal Depressed, lethargic, feeling cold

Other eating problems: Bulimia nervosa Bingeing + purging Only eat diet or low-fat foods (except binges) Laxatives, diuretics, enemas Excuses to go to bathroom after meals Loss of control during binge Fear of weight gain Disturbance in self-perception Intensely unhappy with body size, shape, or weight Exercise most of the time Social withdrawal

21 Weakened heart muscles Kidney failure Iron-deficiency anemia Abnormal electrical activity in the brain Amenorrhea (low body fat) Premature osteoporosis (low estrogen levels) Erosion of tooth & rupture of esophagus (vomiting) Consequences of eating disorders

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Eating Disorders Inmaculada Ibanez-Casas, PhD PSY352 – Health Psychology