Lesson 2: Eating Disorders

 Eating Disorder – An extreme and damaging eating behavior that can lead to sickness and even death.  24 million people have an eating disorder in the U.S.  These disorders have nothing to do with food but are brought on by mental/emotional problems.

 Binge Eating Disorder – Compulsive Overeating.  A compulsion is something you feel you cannot control and binge eaters can’t control their desire to eat.

 They eat even when they aren’t hungry.  Because of the excessive amounts of food they eat, most compulsive eaters have serious weight problems and are considered obese.  Obesity – Weighing more than 20% higher than what is appropriate for their height, age, and body frame.

 Anorexia Nervosa – An eating disorder characterized by self-starvation leading to extreme weight loss.  Most common in females 14 – 18 years old, but can also occur in males.  People who have Anorexia often have low self-esteem and poor body image.

 They starve themselves to gain control of their life.  If left untreated a person with Anorexia could die from starvation, heart failure, kidney failure, or other medical complications.  The depression that is associated with it can also lead to thoughts of suicide.

 Bulimia Nervosa – A condition in which a person eats large amounts of food and then secretly purges  Purge – Getting rid of or removing something

 How people purge  Forcefully vomiting  Taking Laxatives  Exercising excessively to burn off the calories they have taken in

 Health Risks associated with Bulimia: ◦ Stomach acids from frequent vomiting can eat away tooth enamel and injure the mouth and throat. ◦ Hormone imbalance from frequent vomiting along with dehydration, damage to the kidneys and liver, and loss of important minerals.

 Counselors  Primary care doctor  Nutritionists ◦ When an eating disorder involves serious medical problems or severe depression, a hospital or special treatment facility may be recommended.