Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is an illness that causes Bulimia Nervosa serious disturbances to the everyday diet. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by There are several types of eating disorders, uncontrolled eating of abnormally large including eating a very small or very large amounts of food (binge eating) followed Eating amount of food. Some other symptoms of by forced vomiting, using diuretics or lax - Disorders eating disorders are anxiety, control issues, atives, excessive exercise, fasting, or some by the Numbers and concern about body weight or shape. combination of these. Afterwards, a per - son with bulimia may feel guilt and About 8 million Americans Types of Eating Disorders shame, causing another cycle of eating have an eating disorder: There are three main categories of eating and binging. They feel a lack of control 7 million women disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia ner - when it comes to eating and not binging. and 1 million men Bulimia, like anorexia, is characterized • vosa, and binge-eating disorder. by fear of gaining weight, body image dis - The prevalence of most eating disorders is similar Anorexia Nervosa tortion, and a desperate desire to lose among non-Hispanic whites, The first type, anorexia nervosa, is charac - weight. Unlike those with anorexia, those Hispanics, African- terized by extremely restrictive eating and with bulimia are often average weight or Americans, and Asians in strict, self-inflicted food “rules,” such as overweight. Some of the symptoms the United States, but eating very small portions of only specific include swollen salivary glands, worn anorexia nervosa is more tooth enamel, acid reflux, and intestinal common among non- foods. Those with anorexia nervosa have Hispanic whites an intense fear of weight gain. They have distress. • a distorted body image and view them - 95 percent of those who selves as overweight even if they are Binge Eating have eating disorders are extremely underweight. They are con - Binge-Eating disorder is marked by the between the ages of stantly trying to lose weight and will same loss of control and binge eating as 12 and 25 bulimia but without its purging, excessive • typically weigh themselves at least once a Eating disorders are day. exercising, or similar behaviors. People prevalent among These are some of the physical signs affected by binge eating are likely to be overweight youths and symptoms of anorexia: overweight or obese. Often, binges are • • emaciation (severe thinness) caused by excessive feelings of guilt or 50 percent of girls between • lack of menstrual cycle (in women) shame caused by everyday stresses or the ages of 11 and 13 have even the disorder itself. attempted to lose weight • infertility • • brittle hair and nails 80 percent of 13-year-olds • dry skin Eating Disorders Not Otherwise have attempted to lose • thinning bones Specified (EDNOS) weight • muscle wasting Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified • • anemia is a fourth, lesser-known category of eat - Eating disorders have the • heart and brain damage ing disorders. EDNOS is the diagnosis highest mortality rate of any mental illness • low body temperature given to those individuals who have dis - • growth of lanugo (fine hair) over entire ordered eating but do not fit the criteria body, and for bulimia, anorexia, or binge-eating dis - • extreme lethargy. order. A person who has a normal body Anorexia can even cause organ failure if it mass index (BMI) but all the symptoms of is left untreated for too long. anorexia could be diagnosed with EDNOS. • Avoid conflict and placing blame. Communicate Signs of an Eating Disorder your feelings using “I” statements. For example, Skipping meals frequently instead of saying, “You are acting irresponsibly,” say, Making excuses for not eating “I am concerned because you refuse to eat so often.” Refusing to eat in public • Offer your continued support. Do not try to give Cooking elaborate meals but refusing to eat any simple solutions, such as, “Just eat and this will go Withdrawing from normal social activities away.” Adopting rigid meal or eating rituals Developing a distorted body image Using dietary supplements for weight loss Checking in the mirror frequently for perceived flaws References Steps for Family and Friends “Eating Disorder Pathology Among Overweight Treatment- In general, people with eating disorders do not realize Seeking Youth: Clinical Correlates and Cross-Sectional they are sick and need help. Friends and family mem - Risk Modeling”. US Department of Defense: Uniformed Services University of Healthy. Retrieved September 2, bers are important sources of support and guidance. If 2011 from University of Nebraska-Lincoln you suspect someone you love has an eating disorder, (lancaster.unl.edu) here’s how you can help: “Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)” (2011). Retrieved August 31, 2011 from Association of Anorexia Find out more Nervosa and Associated Disorders Inc. www.anad.org The first thing you should do is become informed. Go “Eating Disorder Statistics”. South Carolina Department of Mental Health. Retrieved August 31, 2011 from to a trustworthy website and read the general informa - www.state.sc.us. tion on eating disorders offered there. Here are some “Eating Disorders”. National Institute of Mental Health (2011). reliable sources: NIH Publication No 11-4901. Retrieved August 23, 2011 • National Eating Disorder Association from http://www.nimh.nih.gov. (www.nationaleatingdisorders.org or “Eating Disorders among Dietetics Students: An Educator’s helpline at 1-800-931-2237) Dilemma” (2008) Journal of the American Dietetic • National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Association 108(4). Retrieved September 2, 2011 from eatright.org Associated Disorders Inc. (www.anad.org) Neumark-Sztainer, D., & Hannan, P. (2001). Weight-related • National Eating Disorder Information Centre behaviors among adolescent girls and boys: A national (www.nedic.ca) survey. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, • National Institute of Mental Health – 154, 569-577. Eating Disorders (NIMH) Nolen, Marjorie E. RD, CDN. “Eating Disorder or Disordered (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating- Eating?” (2010). Retrieved September 2, 2011 from eatright.org disorders/index.shtml) Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrition • Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Intervention in the Treatment of Eating Disorders. J Am Action (www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org) Diet Assoc. 2011;111:1236-1241. Retrieved September 2, 2011 from eatright.org Talk to them Streigel-Moore R. H., & Franko D. L. (2003). Epidemiology of When you talk to your friend or family member, here binge eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 34, S19-S29. are some ways to make the conversation easier for “What Should I Say? Tips for Talking to a Friend Who May Be both of you: Struggling with an Eating Disorder” (2005). Retrieved • Talk in private at a set time and place. August 31, 2011 from Nationaleatingdisorder.org • Tell him or her your concerns. Give specific exam - ples that illustrate why you are concerned.

Copyright 2013 by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved. This publication may be copied and distributed without alteration for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

By Kristine Dixon, Dietetic Intern; LaTorya Smith, Dietetic Intern; and Dr. Chiquita A. Briley , Associate Professor, Department of Food, Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion.

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Publication 2770 Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. DR. GARY JACKSON, Director (POD 06-13)