Overview
Eating
disorders are a group of mental illnesses that drive people to develop
unhealthy eating behaviors. They could start with an obsession with food, body
weight, or body shape.
If left
untreated, intake disorders can have major health effects, and in extreme
circumstances, they'll even end in death.
Types of
Eating Disorders
● Anorexia
Nervosa
● Bulimia
Nervosa
● Rumination
Disorder
1. Anorexia Nervosa
Even when
they are dangerously underweight, people with anorexia nervosa may perceive
themselves as overweight. Patients with anorexia nervosa usually weigh
themselves, severely restrict their food intake, exercise excessively, and/or
force themselves to vomit or use laxatives to lose weight. Anorexia nervosa is
the mental condition with the greatest mortality rate. Many people with this
disorder die as a result of complications related to malnutrition, while others
commit suicide.
Symptoms
Some of
the clinical symptoms are as follows:
● Apprehension
concerning gaining weight
● Extreme
sweetness (emaciation)
● Obsession
with thinness and a refusal to keep a normal or healthy weight
● Body
image distortion, low body weight denial, or low self-esteem that is influenced
significantly by body weight and shape perceptions
Other
signs and symptoms may appear over time, such as:
● The
bones are thinning down (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
● Anemia,
muscular atrophy, and weakness are all symptoms of mild anemia
● Hair
and nails that are brittle
● Skin
that is dry and yellowish
● Fine
hair growth all over the body (languor)
● Severe
constipation
● Blood
pressure that is too low breathing and pulse rates have slowed
● Damage
to the heart's structure and function
● Damage
to the brain
● Failure
of many organs
● Internal
body temperatures drop, making a person feel cold all the time
● Lethargy,
sluggishness, or a constant feeling of exhaustion
● Infertility
Causes
Anorexia's
actual cause is unknown. It's likely a combination of biological,
psychological, and environmental components, like with many disorders.
Although it's unknown which genetic factors are at play, genetic anomalies may put some people at a higher risk of anorexia. Perfectionism, sensitivity, and perseverance are all attributes related to anorexia, and some people may have a hereditary inclination toward them.
1. Psychological
Some
people with anorexia have obsessive-compulsive personality traits, which make
it easier for them to stick to rigid diets and avoid eating even when they are
hungry. They may have an unhealthy obsession with perfection, leading them to
believe that they are never thin enough. They may also suffer from high levels
of anxiety and use restrictive diets to cope.
2. Environmental
In
today's Western culture, there is a strong emphasis on thinness. Slimness is
commonly linked to success and worth Peer pressure, significantly among young
girls, could play a task within the want to be thin.
Diagnosis
● The
doctor may inquire about the person's eating habits, weight, and overall mental
and physical well-being.
● They
may conduct testing to rule out other medical illnesses that have similar signs
and symptoms, such as malabsorption, cancer, or hormone issues.
● According
to the National Eating Disorders Association, the criteria listed below can
assist clinicians in making a diagnosis.
● They do
point out, however, that not everyone with a serious eating disorder will meet
all of these requirements.
● Energy
restriction associate degree a considerably low weight for the person's age,
sex, and overall health.
● A
strong apprehension about gaining weight or becoming obese while being
underweight
● Changes
in however an individual feels concerning their body weight or shape, an undue
impact of body weight or kind on a person's self-image, or a denial that their
current low body weight is a problem
Treatment
Restoring
a healthy weight, treating mental considerations resembling poor self-esteem,
ever-changing faulty thinking patterns, and creating semi-permanent behavioral
changes are all goals of treatment.
1. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
is a sort of individual counseling that focuses on improving a person's
eating-disordered thinking (cognitive treatment) and behavior (behavioral
therapy). Practical tactics for building healthy attitudes around food and
weight, as well as ways to change how a person reacts to tough situations, are
all part of the treatment.
2. Antidepressant
Drugs
Antidepressant
drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may be used to
treat anxiety and depression caused by an eating disorder. Some antidepressants
may also help with appetite stimulation and sleep. Other medications may be
administered to help with anxiety, disordered eating, or body image issues.
3. Nutrition
Counseling
This
strategy promotes a healthy approach to food and weight, assists in the
restoration of regular eating patterns, and underlines the importance of
nutrition and a well-balanced diet.
4. Family
Support
Family
support is critical to the effectiveness of group and/or family therapy. Family
members must be aware of and recognize the signs and symptoms of an eating
disorder. People with eating disorders may benefit from group therapy, where
they can find support and openly express their feelings and concerns with
others who are going through similar issues.
5. Hospitalization
As
previously stated, hospitalization may be required to manage extreme weight
loss that has resulted in malnutrition as well as other major mental or
physical health consequences, such as heart disease, severe depression, or the
risk of suicide. In some cases, the patient may need to be fed through a
feeding tube or an IV.
2. Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia
nervosa is a kind of anorexia nervosa. Bulimia, like anorexia, appears to be
more common in males than in females and develops between adolescence and early
adulthood. Bulimia individuals frequently consume significant quantities of
food in a short period. During these binges, you have no control over your
eating. Then you try ineffective weight-loss methods such as:
● Vomiting
● Fasting
● Enemas
● The use
of laxatives and diuretics in excess
● Exercise
is compulsive behavior
Symptoms
Bulimia
symptoms might vary from person to person. You may notice changes in your
physical appearance as well as your conduct. Bulimia is different from anorexia
in that a person with bulimia may not lose a lot of weight, making it difficult
to figure out what's going on.
The
following are some physical signs and symptoms of bulimia:
● Dental
issues
● Throat
irritation
● Neck
and face glands that are swollen
● Bloating,
indigestion, and heartburn
● Periods
that are irregular
● Weakness,
tiredness, and bloodshot eyes are just a few of the symptoms
● Making
yourself puke has left you with calluses on your knuckles and the backs of your
hands
● Frequently
gain and lose weight. Although your weight is normally within normal limits,
you may be overweight.
● A
feeling of dizziness or fainting.
● Constantly
feel the cold
● Problems
with sleep
● Skin
that is dry and brittle, as well as nails that are dry and brittle.
Types of Bulimia
Nervosa
Because
of their complexity, bulimia nervosa symptoms and behavior are generally
separated into two kinds: the purging type and the non-purging type.
1. Purging
Type
Bulimia
Nervosa — Purging Type refers to the most widely recognized form of Bulimia Nervosa.
Individuals with the Purging Type engage in the above-mentioned binge-eating
behavior, followed by purging behavior such as vomiting and/or laxatives,
diuretics, and enemas.
2. Non-Purging
Type
Bulimia
Nervosa — Non-Purging Type does not preclude people from engaging in
compensatory measures to "undo" binge-eating. Non-purging bulimia
patients engage in compensatory measures that do not involve actively expelling
food from the body. Instead, they will compensate by fasting or exercising, and
they will not participate in purging behavior regularly, if at all.
Causes
Bulimia's
actual cause is unknown. Eating disorders may be caused by a combination of
genetics, biology, emotional health, societal expectations, and other factors.
Diagnosis
If your
doctor suspects you have bulimia, they'll likely inquire about your eating
habits, weight loss or gain, and any physical symptoms you're experiencing.
They could also:
● Give
you a thorough physical examination
● Test
your blood and urine
● Have an
EKG done to see if you have cardiac problems as a result of your bulimia
● Take a
psychological test that asks you about your body image
● Other
tests may be performed to rule out medical causes of weight loss or gain
Treatment
Counseling
and medicine may be part of your treatment plan. A team of medical, dietary,
and mental health professionals is frequently involved. They'll do everything
they can to help you get back on track with your health and eating habits.
1. Medications
The FDA
has approved the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) for the treatment of
bulimia. Doctors may prescribe other antidepressants or types of drugs in some
cases.
2. Hospitalization
Hospitalization
is a rare occurrence. However, if you have a severe case of bulimia, you may be
admitted to the hospital for treatment. Outpatient treatment is available in
most eating disorder programs.
If you'd
like to assist, here are a few ideas:
● Encourage
your children to have a positive body image, regardless of their size or shape.
Assist them in establishing confidence in areas other than their appearance.
● Maintain
a consistent schedule of enjoyable family meals.
● Don’t
bring up the subject of weight when you’re at home. Instead, consider
leading a healthy lifestyle.
● Encourage
people to avoid dieting, particularly when it entails risky weight-loss
measures like fasting, taking laxatives for weight-loss drugs, or self-induced
vomiting.
● Consult
your primary care physician. He or she may be in a good position to spot early
signs of an eating issue and help prevent it from becoming more serious.
● Consider
talking supportively to a relative or acquaintance who appears to have food
issues that could lead to or indicate an eating disorder about these issues and
ask how you can help.
3. Rumination Disorder
Rumination
is a psychological disorder that affects humans. It's a condition in which a
person regurgitates food that they've already digested and swallowed, re-chews
it, and then swallows or spits it out.
● Typically,
this rumination happens within the first 30 minutes after a meal. It isn't a
medical condition like acid reflux, and it is entirely voluntary.
● If the
food is spat upon or the person eats significantly less to avoid the action,
the problem can lead to malnutrition.
● It's
possible that rumination disorder is more widespread in children or people with
intellectual disabilities.
The most
important aspect of the ruminating syndrome:
● Food is
pulled back up from the stomach in rumination syndrome, an uncommon behavioral
disease. It's chewed again, swallowed, or spit out.
● The
food will be described as tasting normally. This means it is still undigested.
It's not acidic-tasting like vomit.
● Rumination
is a reaction rather than an intentional act.
Symptoms
The main
sign of this condition is the regurgitation of undigested food regularly.
Regurgitation is prevalent between half an hour and two hours after eating.
This disorder causes people to regurgitate practically every day and after
almost every meal.
Other
signs and symptoms could include:
● Tooth
decay, dry mouth or lips, bad breath, weight loss, stomach aches, or
indigestion.
● Both
children and adults experience the same signs and symptoms of rumination
problems.
● Regurgitated
food is more likely to spit out by adults. Food is more likely to be chewed and
swallowed by children.
Causes
Rumination
syndrome is caused by a variety of unknown factors. If you have emotional
concerns or are going through a stressful situation, you might get this
syndrome.
One
mechanical reason is that food swells the stomach, causing an increase in
abdominal pressure and the lower esophageal sphincter to relax (the juncture
where the esophagus [food tube from the mouth] meets the stomach). The series
of actions allows for the regurgitation of stomach contents.
Diagnosis
A medical
history and physical examination are generally enough to identify rumination
syndrome. In several circumstances, the patient's symptoms, specifically that
the patient has been regurgitating, chewing, and swallowing food for a minimum
of three months while not projection it, are comfortable to diagnose rumination
syndrome. Other medical concerns, such as obstructions, may be ruled out
through examinations. These tests may involve the following:
● The
time it takes for food to pass from the stomach to the small intestine is
measured in the gastric emptying test.
● An
endoscope (a small tube with a camera on the end) put down the throat allows
the doctor to inspect the esophagus and stomach.
● X-rays:
These images of the inside of the esophagus and stomach are useful to doctors.
Treatment
1. Behavior
Modification Therapy
Rumination
syndrome is treated using habit reversal behavior therapy in people who do not
have developmental problems. When rumination happens, people learn to recognize
it and breathe in and out using their abdominal muscles (diaphragmatic
breathing). Abdominal spasms and regurgitation are avoided with diaphragmatic
breathing.
Rumination
syndrome is treated with biofeedback as part of behavioral treatment. Imaging
can help you or your child practice diaphragmatic breathing skills to prevent
regurgitation during biofeedback.
Treatment
for infants usually entails collaborating with parents or caregivers to alter
the infant's environment and behavior.
2. Medication
Proton
pump inhibitors such as esomeprazole (Nexium) or omeprazole (Prilosec) may be
recommended if frequent rumination is harming the esophagus. These drugs can
preserve the esophageal lining until behavior therapy reduces regurgitation
frequency and severity.
Certain
patients with rumination syndrome may benefit from medicine that relaxes the
stomach during the post-meal interval.
This
article is written by Rameen Mazhar, one of the contributors at the School of
Literature.
