Description and History
What is the definition of an eating disorder?
The definition of an eating disorder is any of a range of mental conditions in which there is a persistent disturbance of eating behaviour and impairment of physical or mental health.
What percentage of the youth population is affected by these conditions?
A review article from 2023 indicates that up to 22% of children and adolescents struggle with disordered eating.
List common behavioral signs of eating disorders
Preoccupation with weight, calories, food, dieting, and body size and shape
Primary factors that can contribute to the development of eating disorders?
Stress, Frequent dieting and starvation, bullying, and stress
What barriers do people with eating disorders face in opening up?
stigma, feelings of shame and fear of judgement from family members/friends/health professionals regarding experiencing eating disorder symptoms or behaviours
What are the most common eating disorders in adolescents today?
Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
Which age group is most commonly affected by anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?
The most common age of onset is between 12-25.
List common physical signs of eating disorders
Weight fluctuations, fatigue, dry skin, sleep problems, difficulty focusing, poor wound healing, impaired immune functioning, etc.
How can family dynamics or relationships influence the risk of eating disorders?
Eating disorders are more likely to occur in people who have parents or siblings who've had an eating disorder.
What are some ways people with eating disorders manage their eating disorders?
Replace habits that aren't healthy with healthy ones.
Create problem-solving skills.
Find healthy ways to cope with stress.
Make your relationships better.
Make your mood better.
What is anorexia?
Anorexia (anorexia nervosa) is an eating disorder in which you restrict the number of calories you consume, resulting in a nutrient deficit and often — but not always — a very low body weight. (Cleveland Clinic)
How does the prevalence differ between genders?
Females are statistically are greater risk to eatings disorders and their symptoms, with the female:male ratio ranging from ~2:1 to ~10:1 across eating disorders
How are eating disorders usually diagnosed?
Physical exams, Mental Health Evaluations, Laboratory Tests
What societal pressures are commonly linked to the development of eating disorders?
Eating disorders occur most often in cultures where there is an emphasis on thinness, especially if thinness is linked to success. Media, and public image.
Is it possible to make a full recovery?
Yes
What is bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating.
What countries have the highest rates of eating disorders, and why might that be?
Japan has the highest rate of prevalence, followed by Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea. Eating disorders have risen with increasing dissatisfaction in body shape and size
How are eating disorders usually treated?
Learning about proper nutrition.
Learning how to develop healthy eating habits.
Guidance in reaching a healthy weight if you're underweight.
Behavioral therapy, sometimes called talk therapy.
Medicine, if needed.
How might biological or genetic factors play a role in eating disorders?
Some people's genetics increase their risk of developing an eating disorder. Biological factors, such as changes in brain chemicals, may play a role in eating disorders.How might biological or genetic factors play a role in eating disorders?
Name a celebrity that has opened up about experiences with an eating disorder:
What is a binge eating disorder?
Binge eating is when you eat a large amount of food in a short amount of time and feel you can’t control what or how much you are eating.
What are the most common ages of onset for binge eating, bulimia and anorexia nervosa?
Based on diagnostic interview data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), median age of onset was 21 years-old for binge eating disorder and 18 years-old for both bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa
What do medicines for eating disorders look like?
Antidepressants for eating disorders are most common for some, but medicine cannot cure eating disorders
How do emotional or psychological challenges, such as low self-esteem or trauma, increase the risk of eating disorders?
Researchers proposed that trauma may cause or exacerbate symptoms of low self-esteem, self-criticism, perfectionism, impulsiveness, compulsiveness, dissociation, and poor body image, which can then lead to engaging in disordered eating behaviors.
What dimensions of wellness does this influence?