Eating Disorders

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Eating disorders are characterized by an abnormal attitude towards food that causes someone to change their eating habits and behaviour. A person with an eating disorder may focus excessively on their weight and shape, leading them to make unhealthy choices about food with damaging results to their health.

Classification—

A. 

  1. Anorexia nervosa

When it is tried to keep weight as low as possible, for example by starving themselves or exercising excessively

  1. Bulimia

When weight is tried to control by excessive eating and then deliberately being sick or using laxatives

3. Binge eating

   Compelled overeating 

B. 

  1. Atypical eating disorders
  2. Eating disorders not otherwise specified

Causes—

  1. Family history of
  • Eating disorders
  • Depression
  • Substance misuse

2. Criticised for

  • Eating habits
  • Body shape
  • Weight

3. Overly concerned for looks(slim body)

4. Obsessive personality

5. Anxiety disorder

6. Low self-esteem

7. Being a perfectionist

8. Sexual or emotional abuse

9. Death of nears/dears

10. Difficult relationships with family members or friends

11. Stressful situations( at work, school or university)

Symptoms And Signs–

A. Anorexia Nervosa—

  1. Amenorrhoea
  2. Anxiety
  3. Brittle hair and nails
  4. Depression
  5. Distortion of body image
  6. Drop in internal body temperature(feeling cold all the time)
  7. Dry and yellowish skin
  8. Emaciation
  9. Extremely disturbed eating behavior.
  10. Growth of fine hair over body
  11. Impaired physical development.
  12. Intense fear of gaining weight
  13. Lethargy
  14. Low blood pressure
  15. Mild anemia
  16. Muscle weakness and loss
  17. Obsessive behavior
  18. Portions food and eats only very small quantities of certain foods
  19. Relentless pursuit of thinness
  20. Severe constipation
  21. Slowed breathing and pulse
  22. Substance abuse
  23. Thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
  24. Typically weighs herself or himself repeatedly,
  25. Unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight

B. Bulimia Nervosa–

  1. Recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food (e.g., binge-eating)
  2. Feeling a lack of control over the eating.
  3. Binge-eating is followed by– Purging ( vomiting, laxatives ,diuretics); Fasting; Excessive exercise
  4. Fear gaining weight
  5. Desperate to lose weight
  6. Intensely unhappy with body size and shape
  7. Feelings of disgust/ shame
  8. Depression
  9. Anxiety
  10. Substance abuse
  11. Electrolyte imbalances,
  12. Gastrointestinal problems(acid reflux)
  13. Dental problems.
  14. Chronically inflamed and sore throat
  15. Swollen glands in the neck and below the jaw
  16. Intestinal distress and irritation from laxative abuse
  17. Kidney problems from diuretic abuse
  18. Severe dehydration from purging of fluids

C. Binge-Eating—

  1. Anxiety
  2. Depression
  3. Guilty, ashamed of binge-eating
  4. Hypertension
  5. Often obese
  6. Personality disorders
  7. Recurrent binge-eating episodes (not followed by purgation)

           

Treatment                     

  1. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

 It focuses on changing how someone thinks about a situation, which in turn  affect how they act

  1. Interpersonal psychotherapy

It  focuses on relationship-based issues

  1. Dietary counselling
  2. Psycho-dynamic therapy

It  focuses on how a person’s personality and life experiences influence their current thoughts, feelings, relationships and behaviour

  1. Ayurvedic Medicines
  • Cap /Syp Kushagra
  • Cap/Syp Safojas
  • Tab/Syp Tinifat

Prevention–

  1. Maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
  2. Exercise constantly but don’t exaggerate
  3. Don’t keep your feelings to yourself

Talk about your feelings with your family member, a friend or even someone over the Internet.

  1. Identify the Eating Disorder Symptoms

Know the symptoms of each eating disorder and contact doctor as soon as you notice them

 

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