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Eating disorders
by Dr Chris Brown
A look at the most common eating disorders, the symptoms associated with them and how they can be treated.
Eating disorders are relatively common in women in Western societies, though rare among males. Eating disorders are subdivided into three main groups: anorexia nervosa, bulimia and the more recently classified binge-eating disorder. These groups are not mutually exclusive, as many anorexics develop bulimia later on, but each group has some distinctive characteristics.
Anorexia nervosa
This usually starts in the mid-teens and affects one out of 150 15-year-olds. Anorexia nearly always begins with the desire to be thin and the everyday dieting that is such a common feature of teenage life, and about a third of anorexia sufferers were overweight before starting to diet. Whereas normal dieting stops when a desired weight has been achieved, anorexics continue to restrict their food intake and to lose weight until the sufferer is well below the normal limit for height and age.
The most serious complications arise in anorexics, up to 20%of whom will eventually die as a result of their condition
Fear of fatness, the hallmark of anorexia, may lead the sufferer to adopt other strategies to control weight, such as over-exercising, taking slimming pills or taking laxatives. Occasionally, anorexics make themselves sick as a means of controlling their weight.
Bulimia
This condition usually affects a slightly older age group, commonly women in their mid-twenties. Around 3% of women will be bulimic at some time in their lives. Like anorexics, bulimics are afraid of being overweight, but they usually maintain a weight that is within normal limits.
The hallmark of bulimia is binge eating, followed by induced vomiting and often taking laxatives as well. The binge-eating episodes usually involve consuming large quantities of fattening foods in one sitting. Typically, several packets of biscuits, numerous bars of chocolate and a quantity of cakes are eaten in a bingeing session lasting one to two hours.
After the binge session, the bulimic makes herself sick and then is overcome by feelings of guilt and depression. The binge-vomiting cycle is time-consuming and the compulsion to binge is very powerful, so bulimics often find that their whole life is dominated by their eating disorder.
Binge-eating disorder
This is very similar to bulimia, except that women with this disorder do not induce vomiting or use laxatives. Surprisingly, only around 10% of sufferers are obese.
What causes eating disorders?
There are many theories about the causes, including social pressure, media influence, family dynamics, inability to cope with pubertal body changes, depression and a reaction to a life trauma, such as a relationship break-up or family crisis.
What complications are there?
The most serious complications arise in anorexics, up to 20% of whom eventually die as a result of their condition. Other serious complications of anorexia include osteoporosis (brittle bones) and muscle weakness.
In bulimics, the frequent vomiting can lead to irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, kidney damage and epileptic fits. Laxative abuse can lead to persistent abdominal pain, swollen fingers and long-term constipation.
Less serious complications of eating disorders include depression, concentration difficulties and the dissolution of tooth enamel by stomach acid.
Is there any treatment?
Bulimia and binge-eating disorder are best treated by a specialised form of psychotherapy called cognitive behaviour therapy, in which the patient is encouraged to change the way they see both themselves and the world.
Anorexia is more complex to treat and requires either psychotherapy conducted by someone with specialist training, or may sometimes need psychiatric help. GPs can access all these services for their patients.
Copyright © 2005 handbag.com
by Dr Chris Brown
A look at the most common eating disorders, the symptoms associated with them and how they can be treated.
Eating disorders are relatively common in women in Western societies, though rare among males. Eating disorders are subdivided into three main groups: anorexia nervosa, bulimia and the more recently classified binge-eating disorder. These groups are not mutually exclusive, as many anorexics develop bulimia later on, but each group has some distinctive characteristics.
Anorexia nervosa
This usually starts in the mid-teens and affects one out of 150 15-year-olds. Anorexia nearly always begins with the desire to be thin and the everyday dieting that is such a common feature of teenage life, and about a third of anorexia sufferers were overweight before starting to diet. Whereas normal dieting stops when a desired weight has been achieved, anorexics continue to restrict their food intake and to lose weight until the sufferer is well below the normal limit for height and age.
The most serious complications arise in anorexics, up to 20%of whom will eventually die as a result of their condition
Fear of fatness, the hallmark of anorexia, may lead the sufferer to adopt other strategies to control weight, such as over-exercising, taking slimming pills or taking laxatives. Occasionally, anorexics make themselves sick as a means of controlling their weight.
Bulimia
This condition usually affects a slightly older age group, commonly women in their mid-twenties. Around 3% of women will be bulimic at some time in their lives. Like anorexics, bulimics are afraid of being overweight, but they usually maintain a weight that is within normal limits.
The hallmark of bulimia is binge eating, followed by induced vomiting and often taking laxatives as well. The binge-eating episodes usually involve consuming large quantities of fattening foods in one sitting. Typically, several packets of biscuits, numerous bars of chocolate and a quantity of cakes are eaten in a bingeing session lasting one to two hours.
After the binge session, the bulimic makes herself sick and then is overcome by feelings of guilt and depression. The binge-vomiting cycle is time-consuming and the compulsion to binge is very powerful, so bulimics often find that their whole life is dominated by their eating disorder.
Binge-eating disorder
This is very similar to bulimia, except that women with this disorder do not induce vomiting or use laxatives. Surprisingly, only around 10% of sufferers are obese.
What causes eating disorders?
There are many theories about the causes, including social pressure, media influence, family dynamics, inability to cope with pubertal body changes, depression and a reaction to a life trauma, such as a relationship break-up or family crisis.
What complications are there?
The most serious complications arise in anorexics, up to 20% of whom eventually die as a result of their condition. Other serious complications of anorexia include osteoporosis (brittle bones) and muscle weakness.
In bulimics, the frequent vomiting can lead to irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, kidney damage and epileptic fits. Laxative abuse can lead to persistent abdominal pain, swollen fingers and long-term constipation.
Less serious complications of eating disorders include depression, concentration difficulties and the dissolution of tooth enamel by stomach acid.
Is there any treatment?
Bulimia and binge-eating disorder are best treated by a specialised form of psychotherapy called cognitive behaviour therapy, in which the patient is encouraged to change the way they see both themselves and the world.
Anorexia is more complex to treat and requires either psychotherapy conducted by someone with specialist training, or may sometimes need psychiatric help. GPs can access all these services for their patients.
Copyright © 2005 handbag.com
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