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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. 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.

Most Anorexics lose weight by restricting their food intake. Anorexics may start by limiting or excluding foods that they perceive as having high fat or caloric content.

Once the disorder of Anorexia Nervosa takes hold, the individual usually ends up with an extremely restrictive diet that is sometimes limited to only a small number of foods. Additional methods of weight loss for Anorexics can include vomiting, laxative abuse, diuretic abuse, insulin abuse, chew-spitting, and excessive exercise.

For individuals suffering from Anorexia Nervosa, any actual gain or even perceived gain of weight is met with intense fear of becoming fat. With Anorexia Nervosa, weight loss usually does not lesson the fear, and in fact, the fear often increases following the weight loss. Not only is there a true feeling of fear, but also once in the grasp of the disorder, Anorexics experience body image distortions. Most individuals suffering from Anorexia have an overall feeling of being overweight.

Some Anorexics have an understanding that they are thin, but are concerned that parts of their bodies are fat. Those areas of the body usually representing maturity or sexuality including the buttocks, hips, thighs, and breasts are visualized by the Anorexic as being fat. An individual with Anorexia Nervosa will often obsessively check their body size and weight through frequent weighing, measuring, pinching, and viewing themselves in a mirror.

With Anorexia self-esteem and self worth is tied directly to the Anorexic's body shape and weight. For an Anorexic, weight loss is viewed as a success, a sign of extraordinary self-discipline, and control over life. Conversely, any real or perceived weight gain is seen as a personal failure and loss of control for the Anorexic.

For some Anorexics, weight loss is so severe there is a loss of menstruation. Medical complications for individuals with Anorexia Nervosa can be severe and even life threatening. Some of the more common potential medical complications include emaciation, bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, impaired renal functioning and gastrointestinal problems. For a complete list of potential medical problems for Anorexia Nervosa, visit our Medical Complications page. 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.

For individuals suffering from Bulimia Nervosa, the binge can be seen as a reward within itself and a way to cope with daily stresses and feelings. Bulimic binges usually consist of a larger than normal quantity of food, that typically are high in caloric intake. For individuals with Bulimia Nervosa, the binge eating usually occurs in secrecy and rarely in the presence of others.

The types of food vary but are often sweet and/or high in fat content. Some binges are planned in advance by the Bulimic, but generally they are impulsive. Triggers for binges in Bulimia Nervosa include dysphoric mood, interpersonal stressors, boredom, prolonged dieting, and body image dissatisfaction.

The binge eating in Bulimia Nervosa may temporarily numb the negative feelings, but this state is quickly followed by feelings of failure. The Bulimic is often ashamed of their binges and views the Bulimic behavior as a loss of control and a reason for low self-esteem. This is why it is often hard for Bulimics to come forward and seek help.

Individuals suffering from Bulimia Nervosa follow their binge-eating behavior with compensatory behaviors in an attempt to counteract the binge episodes. The most common form of compensatory behavior for individuals suffering from Bulimia Nervosa is vomiting. The Bulimic usually induces vomiting directly following the binge.

For the Bulimic, the act of purging may temporarily reduce the feeling of fullness and reduce their fear of weight gain from the binge. Some individuals with Bulimia Nervosa even look forward to the purging behavior as they enjoy the feeling of release the purging behavior temporarily affords. Other compensatory behaviors that individuals with Bulimia Nervosa use in an attempt to prevent weight gain include use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics, diet pills, ipecac, strict diets, fasts, insulin abuse, chew-spitting, and vigorous exercise.

Bulimics, like Anorexics, are also obsessively involved with their body shape and weight. An individual with Bulimia Nervosa will often obsessively check their body size and weight through frequent weighing, measuring, pinching, and viewing themselves in a mirror. For the Bulimic, the individual's self worth is directly tied to their body shape and weight. Some of the common potential medical complications of practicing Bulimia Nervosa include cardiac arrhythmias, esophageal tears, electrolyte disturbances, gastrointestinal problems, and dental problems. For a complete list of potential medical problems for Bulimia Nervosa, visit our Medical Complications page.

The medical complications of Bulimia Nervosa can be severe and like Anorexia, if left untreated can become life threatening.

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. Compulsive overeating may temporarily relieve the stress of these unwanted feelings, but for the individual the overeating episodes are unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and further depression.

It is not uncommon for the individual to eat normally or even restrictively in front of others and then make up for eating less by overeating in private at a later time. Late at night, when others are asleep or frequenting fast food restaurants and convenience stores alone, can also be common. Many even have a secret stash of junk food hidden for their personal use. Similar to Anorexics and Bulimics, compulsive overeaters are constantly struggling and are unhappy with their weight. The number read on the scale often determines how they feel about themselves. Constant dieting and restricting food becomes a way of life.

Each new diet is tried in hope that it will be the one that works to combat the overeating. At first, there may even be some weight loss success with the diet, but unfortunately in most cases each diet ends in failure and all the lost weight is regained. Thus continues the devastating cycle.

Medical complications from this behavior can be severe and even life threatening. Diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems are just a few of the dangerous complications. Like Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, Compulsive Overeating is a disease and cannot be cured with willpower alone.