Eating Disorders
Senior Health
Objectives
• Differentiate between common eating
disorders
• Identify warning signs, risk factors, and
symptoms
• Discuss how to help an individual with an
eating disorder
Introduction
• Eating disorders are conditions that cause a
person to have unhealthy thoughts and behaviors
related to food and body image
• People go to the extreme with their food habits
to personally address their condition
• Causes of eating disorders are thought to be due
to a number of physical, psychological, cultural,
and social factors
Introduction Continued. . .
• Eating disorders most common in teenage girls and young
women, however they can occur in any sex or at any age
• Those with the disorders may develop serious health
problems (malnutrition, dehydration)
• Other health risks
– Menstrual period changes
– Osteoporosis
– Heart and organ complications
Primary Treatment is counseling
True or False?
Quick Facts
• HERE WE GO. . .
– Over 8 million people in the United States
– 95% of those people between ages 13-25
– ½ of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see
themselves as overweight
– 42% of 1st through 3rd grade girls want to be thinner
– 80% of 10 year olds are afraid of becoming fat
– What percentage of people with eating disorders are
men???
• 10%
What is Anorexia (Nervosa)?
• What do people with Anorexia do?
– People with Anorexia have an INTENSE fear of gaining
weight. They severely limit the amount of food they
eat, thus becoming dangerously thin.
– Affects the body AND mind. A simply diet becomes an
obsession and gets out of control (food, dieting,
weight loss)
– Distorted body image…
Anorexia Nervosa
• Starts in teen years and usually affects females
• Early treatment can be very effective, however if left
untreated it can become a lifelong issue… early
treatment is key.
• If untreated, it can lead to starvation and other serious
health issues:
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Osteoporosis…
Kidney damage/failure
Heart problems
Change in menstrual cycle
Symptoms of Anorexia
• People with the disorder are often in DENIAL or do not realize that
have a problem
• Loved ones usually are the ones to get help
• Characteristics of those with Anorexia:
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Weigh much less than healthy or normal
Are VERY afraid of gaining weight
Refuse to stay at a health weight
THINK they are overweight when they are thin (body image)
Obsess about food, weight, dieting
Limit their food intake
Over-exercise…
Go to the extreme to lose weight
Anorexia Diagnosis
• A person’s weight will be compared to a normal
weight for someone of the same height and age
• Examinations on heart, lungs. BP, skin, hair…
• Blood work…
• “How do you feel?”…
Photos
What is Bulimia (Nervosa)?
• What do people with bulimia do?
– Binge and purge
– Binging- eating a large amount of food in a short
period of time
– Purging- doing something to get rid of the food
• Self Induced Vomiting
• Over exercise
• Medicines/laxatives
What is Bulimia?
• Binge and Purge Cycle
– People binge because it gives them a feeling of
comfort
– Eating too much then makes them feel out of
control
– After they binge, they feel ashamed, guilty, and
afraid of gaining weight
– Purging occurs
Health Risks
• Acid from vomiting results in tooth decay, gum
disease, and loss of tooth enamel
• Osteoporosis
• Kidney damage/failure
• Heart problems
Symptoms of Bulimia
• Binging on a regular basis
• Large amounts of food are consumed over a couple of
hours or less. While this is happening, people feel
they are unable to stop eating and feel hopeless
• In an effort to avoid weight gain, people purge by:
– vomiting
– Exercising very hard for a long time
– misusing laxatives, enemas, water pills (diuretics), and
other medicines
Bulimia
• How can I know if someone has bulimia?
– Bulimia is different from Anorexia…how?
– Someone with Bulimia may be at a normal…
– People with Bulimia are very, very, very….???
• SECRETIVE
– What they do:
• Go to the bathroom right after meals
• Overeat but do not gain weight
• Are secretive about eating, hides food, do not eat around
others
• Has teeth marks or calluses on the back of her hands or
swollen cheeks or jaws…this is caused by self induced
vomiting
Photos
Treatment of Eating Disorders
• Early treatment is crucial because the longer it is there, the
harder it is to rid
• Those with only a few signs/symptoms should get help
NOW
• Treatment can teach someone healthy eating habits and
boost self confidence
• Physical only, right?
– You may see a doctor, dietician, and counselor…hospital?
– Treatment takes time and people can fall back into the disorder
Causes of Eating Disorders
• Causes are UNCLEAR and experts are in the dark about
them
• Factors may include family history, social factors, and
personality traits
• You may be more likely to have anorexia if:
– A family member has had an eating disorder
– Job/sport stresses body size…
– You’re a perfectionist, never feel good enough, worries a
lot
– You’re dealing with stressful events…
What should you do?
• Tell someone who can make a difference
– Parent
– Teacher
– Counselor
– Doctor
– Martin Mullarney
SOONER THE BETTER!!!
Other Eating Disorders
• Binge Eating Disorder: Frequent episodes of
eating what others consider abnormally large
amounts of food…you are unable to control
your eating, despite being full.
– Elevated risk factors…
– Disordered Eating: your eating habits have no
sequence…restricting dieting, infrequent binging,
infrequent purging, laxative abuse, diet pill abuse