Eating Disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia)
Eating Disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia)
Two of the most serious eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, a complex disease characterized by a distorted body image and self-starvation.Â
And bulimia, which involves eating huge quantities of food followed by purging.Â
Usually through self-induced vomiting and/or laxative abuse.Â
More than 90 percent of those with either of these conditions are adolescent girls or young women; boys are affected only occasionally.Â
Some persons have features of both disorders.
Anorexia nervosa typically begins during early adolescence when a young girl becomes convinced that her maturing body is fat.Â
Anorexics tend to be high achievers and are often described as obedient, ideal daughters.Â
Some psychiatrists theorize that their eating behavior represents one aspect of life they feel they can control.
A person with anorexia chronically under-eats, becoming thinner and thinner and, in extreme cases, literally starving to death, while remaining firmly convinced that she is overweight.Â
Many anorexics expend a great deal of time and energy in preparing food, which they serve to others while eating only tiny amounts themselves.Â
In addition, as I was reading this some of them have ritualistic eating habits, such as cutting food up into tiny pieces or arranging it very precisely on the plate.
The bulimic goes on periodic food binges, gorging on a large quantity of food in a short period of time.Â
These binges are followed by purges, in which the individual forces vomiting and/or uses drugs to stimulate vomiting and bowel movements.Â
Some bulimics also abuse diuretics, drugs that increase excretion of body fluids; others abuse amphetamines to prevent weight gain.Â
Bulimics and anorexics are secretive about their eating habits and typically deny that they have a problem.Â
They tend to be obsessive about exercising.Â
Many have low self-esteem, and some bulimics also exhibit other addictive behavior, such as alcohol abuse and compulsive shoplifting.
What causes these eating disorders are unknown, but some experts blame problematic family relationships.Â
However, research suggests that eating disorders stem in part from brain chemical and hormonal imbalances.
Anorexia and bulimia are potentially fatal diseases.Â
Anorexics can literally starve themselves to death, while bulimics have a high suicide rate.Â
Metabolic and other changes brought about by their erratic eating behavior increases their risk of heart disease.
Diagnostic Studies And Procedures
Even if an eating disorder is suspected, the first step is a complete physical examination to rule out other illnesses, such as cancer or chronic infection, particularly if extreme weight loss has occurred.Â
While conducting the examination, the doctor will look for signs of anorexia and bulimia.
Indicators of anorexia include dry skin, thinning and brittle hair, low blood pressure, and a slow heart rate — all signs that the body is responding to starvation by shutting off or slowing down functions that are not vital to sustaining life.
Some anorexics complain of constipation and intolerance to cold, and may even develop a soft body hair called lanugo is a response to the lower body temperature that occurs when body fat is lost.Â
Another major symptom of anorexia is the absence of menstruation, due to the loss of body fat and the resulting hormonal changes.Â
Mild anemia, lightheadedness, and sleep problems also suggest anorexia.Â













