Eating Disorders / Fad Diets
JUNIOR HEALTH
Celebrities who
 http://www.edreferral.com/Celebrities_who_died_
or_have_Eating_Disorders.htm
Eating Disorders
 Eating Disorders – extreme harmful eating behaviors
that can cause serious illnesses or death.
 Types of Eating Disorders
 1. Anorexia
 2. Bulimia
 3. Binge Eating Disorder
Factors that contribute to Eating Disorders
 Psychological Factors – low self-esteem, depression,
 Interpersonal Factors – history of physical, sexual &
verbal abuse; history of being teased about weight
 Social Factors – Cultural Pressures of being “thin”
and having “perfect body”
 Biological Factors – eating disorders often run in
family “learned behavior”
Anorexia Nervosa
 Is an eating disorder in which an irrational fear of
gaining weight leads to self starvation.(sever
reduction in vitamin, nutrient and energy intake that
can cause organ damage or death)
 Four Primary Symptoms:
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resistance to maintain body weight at or above norms for
height and weight
Intense fear of gaining weight or being “fat” even though
underweight
Denial of the seriousness of low body weight
Loss of menstrual cycle in girls and women post-puberty
Warning Signs of Anorexia
 Dramatic weight loss.
 Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting.
 Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against
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whole categories of food (e.g. no carbohydrates, etc.).
Frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite
weight loss.
Anxiety about gaining weight or being “fat.”
Denial of hunger.
Development of food rituals (e.g. eating foods in certain orders,
excessive
chewing, rearranging food on a plate).
Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food.
Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness,
or injury, the need to “burn off” calories taken in.
Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
Health Consequences
 Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which
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mean that the heart muscle
is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and
blood pressure levels sink
lower and lower.
Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in
dry, brittle bones.
Muscle loss and weakness.
Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common.
Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the
body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.
Bulimia Nervosa
 BULIMIA NERVOSA : is characterized by a secretive
cycle of binge eating followed by purging. Bulimia
includes eating large amounts of food--more than
most people would eat in one meal--in short periods
of time, then getting rid of the food and calories
through vomiting, laxative abuse, or over exercising.
Warning Signs of Bulimia
 Evidence of binge eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short
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periods of time or the existence of wrappers and containers indicating the
consumption of large amounts of food.
Evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to the bathroom after
meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of
laxatives or diuretics.
Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the
need to “burn off” calories taken in.
Unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area.
Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self-induced vomiting.
Discoloration or staining of the teeth.
Creation of lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge-and-purge sessions.
Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control
of food are becoming primary concerns.
Health Consequences of Bulimia
 Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular
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heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death.
Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss
of potassium and sodium from the body as a result of
purging behaviors.
Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus
from frequent vomiting.
Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released
during frequent vomiting.
Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as
a result of laxative abuse.
Gastric rupture is an uncommon but possible side effect
of binge eating.
Binge Eating Disorder
 Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by:
 Frequent episodes of eating large quantities of food
in short periods of time.
 Feeling out of control over eating behavior.
 Feeling ashamed or disgusted by the behavior.
 There are also several behavioral indicators of BED
including eating when not hungry and eating in
secret.
Health Consequences
 The health risks of BED are most commonly those
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associated with clinical obesity. Some of the potential
health consequences of binge eating disorder
include:
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
Heart disease
Diabetes mellitus
Gallbladder disease
Fad Diets
 Fad Diets – weight-loss plans that tend to be popular
for a short time. They typically promise quick, easy
weight loss.
 Weight Cycling – a repeated pattern of losing and
regaining body weight.
Types of Fad Diets
 Miracle Foods – these plans promise you can “burn
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fat” by eating lots of single food or type of food.
Magic Combination – certain foods will trigger
weight loss when eaten together.
Liquid Diets – replace solid food with ultra-lowcalorie liquid formulas.
Diet Pills – pills or supplements will suppress your
appetite so that you eat less. Other claim to “Block”
or “Flush” fat from body.
Examples: Atkins, Cabbage, South Beach, Slim Fast,
Stacker Pills
10 Characteristics of Fad Diets
 1. Sounds too good to be true.
 2. Promises weight loss without exercise.
 3. Promises weight loss of more than 1 or 2 pounds per week.
 4. Discourages drinking water.
 5. Food or food groups are excluded or consumed excessively.
 6. Lists “good” and “bad” foods.
 7. Uses these terms:“Fat Burner,” “Fat Blocker,” or “Boost
Metabolism.”
 8. Includes no warnings related to possible medical
problems.
 9. Requires purchase of pills, bars, shakes, or other foods.
 10. Claims specific food combinations have weight loss
powers.