EATING DISORDERS

Alannah Vlasic
NURS2021
Friday, January 29 th , 2016

General Information
Not just about food
Often a way to cope with difficult problems or regain a sense of control
Complicated illnesses that affect a persons sense of identity, worth, and selfesteem

Types
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge-Eating Disorder

ANOREXIA
NERVOSA

Anorexia- General Information

Serious eating disorder that affects both men and women
The desire to lose weight becomes more important than anything else

Anorexia- Etiology/Risk Factors

No simple answers to the causes of anorexia and other eating disorders
Complex condition that arises from a combination of many social, biological and
emotional factors
Our cultures idealization of thinness plays a powerful role
Major risk factors: body dissatisfaction, strict dieting, low self-esteem, difficulty
expressing feelings, perfectionism, troubled family relationships, history of physical
or sexual abuse, family history of eating disorders

Anorexia- Symptoms
Extremely low body weight
Severe food restriction
Relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy
weight
Intense fear of gaining weight
Distorted body image and self-esteem that is heavily influenced by perceptions of
body weight and shape, or a denial of the seriousness of low body weight
Lack of menstruation among girls and women

Anorexia- Clinical
Manifestations
Osteopenia or osteoporosis
Brittle hair and nails
Dry and yellowish skin
Lanugo
Mild anemia, muscle wasting, and weakness
Severe constipation
Low BP, or slowed breathing and pulse
Damage to the structure and function of the heart
Brain damage
Multi-organ failure
Drop in internal body temperature, causing a person to feel cold all the time
Lethargy
Infertility

Anorexia- Diagnosis
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria:
Restricting food intake- eating less than needed to maintain a body weight that is at or
above the minimum normal weight for your age and height
Fear of gaining weight- intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, or persistent
behaviour that interferes with weight gain, such as vomiting or using laxatives, even though
you are underweight
Problems with body image- denying the seriousness of having a low body weight,
connecting your weight to your self-worth, or having a distorted image of your appearance
or shape

Anorexia- Treatment
Hospitalization: if your life is in immediate danger (heart rhythm disturbance,
dehydration, electrolyte imbalances or psychiatric problems)
Medical care: may need frequent monitoring of vital signs, hydration level and
electrolytes, physical conditions
Restoring a healthy weight
Psychotherapy
Family-based therapy
Individual therapy

BULIMIA NERVOSA

Bulimia- General Information

Characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating, followed by frantic efforts to
avoid gaining weight
Affects both men and women

Bulimia- Etiology/Risk Factors

Poor body image
Low self-esteem
History of trauma or abuse
Major life changes
Appearance-oriented professions or activities

Bulimia- Symptoms
Lack of control over eating
Secrecy surrounding eating
Eating unusually large amounts of food
Disappearance of food
Alternating between overeating and fasting
Going to the bathroom after meals
Using laxatives, diuretics, or enemas
Smell of vomit
Excessive exercising

Bulimia- Physical Symptoms

Calluses or scars on the knuckles or hands
Puffy chipmunk cheeks
Discoloured teeth
Not underweight
Frequent fluctuations in weight

Bulimia- Clinical Manifestations

Weight gain
Abdominal pain, bloating
Swelling of the hands and feet
Chronic sore throat, hoarseness
Broken blood vessels in the eyes
Swollen cheeks and salivary glands
Weakness and dizziness
Tooth decay and mouth sores
Acid reflux and ulcers
Ruptured stomach or esophagus
Loss of mentrual periods
Chronic constipation from laxative abuse

Bulimia- Diagnosis
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria:
Recurrent episodes of binge eating
Binge-eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:
Eating much more rapidly than normal
Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating
Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterwards

Marked distress regarding binge eating is present

The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for three months
The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory
behaviour (for example, purging)

Bulimia- Treatment
Medications (antidepressants)
Psychological counselling

References
http://www.mayoclinic.org/
http://www.helpguide.org/
http://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/
https://www.cmha.ca/
http://nedic.ca/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/