List Of 3 Major Eating Disorders and How To Treat Them

Posted on April 11th, 2010 by Scott

Eating disorders are unhealthy beliefs and behaviors surrounding the issues of weight, shape and food intake. They may cause serious damage both to the physical as well as the mental well being of a person and affects both men and women as well as children.

Eating disorders can be accompanied by depression, substance abuse and anxiety disorders. They can lead to critical health issues, anemia, dehydration, loss of periods, heart problems, kidney failure, malnutrition and even death.

Eating disorders are real treatable medical illnesses that are likely caused by a combination of social, psychological, family, genetic, and environmental factors.

Eating Disorder Statistics

Eating disorders are estimated to affect 5-10 million females and 1 million males in the United States.

List of 3 Major Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating and Bulimia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa

A person with anorexia nervosa, often called anorexia, has an intense fear of gaining weight. Someone with anorexia thinks about food a lot and limits the food she or he eats, even though she or he is too thin. Anorexia is more than just a problem with food. It’s a way of using food or starving oneself to feel more in control of life and to ease tension, anger, and anxiety.

Anorexia Eating Disorder Quiz

1) Do you make yourself throw up?
2) Do you take pills to urinate or to have a bowel movement?
3) Do you take diet pills?
4) Do you not eat or eat very little?
5) Do you exercise a lot even when you’re hurt or tired?
6) Do you weigh food and/or count calories?

Anorexia Nervosa Treatment

The first goal for the treatment of anorexia is to ensure the person’s physical health, which involves restoring a healthy weight. Attaining this goal may require hospitalization. Once a person’s physical condition is stable, treatment usually involves individual psychotherapy and family therapy during which parents help their child learn to eat again and maintain healthy eating habits on his or her own. Behavioral therapy also has been effective for helping a person return to healthy eating habits. Supportive group therapy may follow, and self-help groups within communities may provide ongoing support.

Binge Eating

Binge-eating disorder is a serious eating disorder in which you often consume unusually large amounts of food. Almost everyone overeats on occasion, such as having seconds or thirds of a holiday meal. But for some people, overeating crosses the line to binge-eating disorder and it becomes a regular event, hidden in secrecy.

When you have binge-eating disorder, you may be deeply embarrassed about gorging and promise to stop. But you feel such a compulsion that you can’t resist the urges and continue binge eating.

Binge Eating Disorder Quiz

1) Do you eat large amounts of food even when you’re full?
2) Do you eat rapidly during binge episodes?
3) Do you feeling that your eating behavior is out of control?
4) Do you eat a lot even though you’re not hungry?
5) Do you feel depressed, disgusted or upset about your eating?

Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

The goals and strategies for treating binge-eating disorder are similar to those for bulimia. This includes individual psychotherapy and family therapy, behavioral therapy and self help groups. Binge-eating disorder was recognized only recently as an eating disorder, and research is under way to study the effectiveness of different interventions.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. People with bulimia nervosa may binge and purge, eating large amounts of food and then trying to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way such as forcing themselves to vomit or do excessive exercises.

Bulimia Nervosa Eating Disorder Quiz

1) Do you feel you can’t control your eating behavior?
2) Do you eat until the point of discomfort or pain?
3) Do you eat much more food in a binge episode than in a normal meal or snack?
4) Do you force yourself to vomit after eating?
5) Do you misuse laxatives, diuretics or enemas?
6) Are you preoccupied with your body shape and weight?
7) Do you have a distorted, excessively negative body image?
8) Do you have abnormal bowel functioning?
9) Are you dehydrated?

Bulimia Nervosa Treatment

Someone with bulimia can get better. A health care team of doctors, nutritionists, and therapists can help the patient recover. They will help the person learn healthy eating patterns and cope with their thoughts and feelings. Treatment for bulimia uses a combination of options.

Some antidepressants such as Prozac, which is the only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating bulimia, may help patients who also have depression and/or anxiety. It also appears to help reduce binge-eating and purging behavior, reduces the chance of relapse, and improves eating attitudes.

Scott Barker- EzineArticles- Expert Author

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Filed under: Addictions, Health, Self Help

One Response to “List Of 3 Major Eating Disorders and How To Treat Them”

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