Eating
Disorders Backgrounder
Anorexia
Anorexia is perhaps the best know and most easily recognizable eating
disorder. It is characterized by episodes of self-starvation leading
to very low body weight.
Suffers of anorexia may display all or some of the following
behavioral characteristics.
- Ritualized eating habits including cutting food into tiny pieces,
arranging food in certain ways, limiting themselves to a particular
types of food (for example uncooked vegetables and food without sauces).
- Desire to prepare food and meals for others that they refuse to eat
themselves and increased interest in cookbooks/cooking shows.
- Hoarding and throwing away food.
- Excessive exercise or hyperactivity.
- Frequent checking of body weight (often several times a day).
An anorexic’s psychological status is defined by an intense fear of
becoming fat that increases as weight decreases. Many anorexics are
deeply depressed and some display suicidal tendencies. They can be
obsessive in their behavior, striving for perfection in everything
they do, reacting very badly to any criticism. They describe
themselves as fat even when they are severely underweight.
Bulimia
Bulimia is often difficult to detect. It is characterized by bingeing
and purging cycles. Sufferers tend to consume normal amounts of food
in public. In private they binge, often eating huge quantities. The
purging is an attempt to rid the body of this food and takes the form
of induced vomiting by sticking fingers or other implements down the
throat and abuse of medicinal products.
Bulimics may be underweight, but are frequently within normal weight
ranges or are slightly over weight.
As well as bingeing and purging cycles bulimics may display a variety
of typical behaviors.
- Abuse of laxatives, emetics and/or diuretics
- Secretive behavior including stealing food and purging aids
- Withdrawing from social activities and isolation from friends/family
- Becoming increasingly disorganized and forgetful
Like anorexics, bulimics also display an overwhelming fear of becoming
fat and are constant pre-occupation with food. Bulimics feel deeply
ashamed of their bingeing and the fact that they frequently lie to
protect themselves. They can also appear very moody and irritable.
Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)
Non specified eating disorder often incorporate a variety of the
symptoms of anorexia and bulimia. They may be bingeing unaccompanied
by purging episodes (often called binge eating disorder). Non
specified eating disorders frequently develop into anorexia and bulimia.
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