Eating Disorders
Intro to Psychology
Purificato
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are characterized by severe
disturbances in eating behavior.
The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed as a
survival mechanism.
Just as an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with
an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting
to deal with their problems. Some of the underlying
issues that are associated with an eating disorder include
low self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control,
feelings of worthlessness, identity concerns, family
communication problems and an inability to cope with
emotions.
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The practice of an eating disorder may be
an expression of something that the
eating disordered individual has found no
other way of expressing.
Eating disorders are usually divided into
three categories: Anorexia Nervosa,
Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive
Overeating
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is a disorder where the main characteristic is the restriction
of food and the refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight.
Any actual gain or even perceived gain of weight is met with intense
fear by the Anorexic. Not only is there a true feeling of fear, but also
once in the grasp of the disorder, Anorexics experience body image
distortions.
Those areas of the body usually representing maturity or sexuality
including the buttocks, hips, thighs and breast are visualized by the
Anorexic as being fat.
For some Anorexics, weight loss is so severe there is a loss of
menses. In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, Anorexics participate
in restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxative and diuretic
abuse.
If Anorexia Nervosa is left untreated, it can be fatal.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimics are caught in the devastating and
addictive binge-purge cycle.
The Bulimic eats compulsively and then purges
through self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives,
diuretics, diet pills, ipecac, strict diets, fasts,
chew-spitting, vigorous exercise, or other
compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain.
Binges usually consist of the consumption of
large amounts of food in a short period of time.
Binge eating usually occurs in secret.
Bulimics, like Anorexics, are also
obsessively involved with their body shape
and weight. The medical complications of
the binge-purge cycle can be severe and
like Anorexia can be fatal.
Compulsive Overeating
Compulsive Overeaters are often caught in the
vicious cycle of binge eating and depression.
They often use food as a coping mechanism to
deal with their feelings.
Binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of
these feelings, but is unfortunately followed by
feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and depression.
Binge eating, like Bulimia, often occurs in secret.
It is not uncommon for Compulsive
Overeaters to eat normally or restrictively in front
of others and then make up for eating less by
bingeing in secret.
For other Compulsive overeaters, binges consist of
“grazing” on foods all day long. Similar to
Anorexics and Bulimics, Compulsive Overeaters
are constantly struggling and unhappy with their
weight.
The number on the scale often determines how
they feel about themselves. Medical
complications can also be severe and even life
threatening for Compulsive Overeaters.
Night Eating Syndrome

Night Eating Syndrome is a disorder where the affected
individual wakes multiple times during the night and is
unable to fall back asleep unless they eat something.
Foods eaten during the binge are often high caloric in
content and unhealthy. The night eating behavior seems
totally beyond the effected individual's control.

For these individuals, 35% or more of their calories are
eaten after dinnertime. Following the night binge, the
person is often not hungry in the morning. Individuals
suffering from Night Eating Syndrome are often caught
in the vicious cycle of binge eating during the night and
eating less during the day.

Triggers for Night Eating Syndrome include depression,
anxiety, interpersonal stressors, boredom, prolonged
dieting, and body image dissatisfaction.

Night eating may temporarily relieve the stress of these
unwanted feelings, but for the night eater these
episodes are unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt,
shame, disgust, and further depression.

For the person suffering from Night Eating Syndrome,
the eating episodes usually occur in secret and any
evidence is often hidden from others.

Similar to Anorexics, Bulimics, and Compulsive
Overeaters, individuals suffering from Night Eating
Syndrome are often struggling and unhappy with their
weight.

It is estimated that up to one percent of the population
may be suffering from Night Eating Syndrome.

Like Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa, and Compulsive
Overeating, Night Eating Syndrome is a disease and
cannot be cured with willpower alone.