Eating Disorders Joseph, Spencer 3B

An eating disorder is a mental disorder that reveals itself through abnormal behavior related to food. They are about emotions, thoughts, and attitudes.

A person with anorexia nervosa doesn’t eat enough food to maintain a healthy body weight. The main symptom is extreme weight loss. A person with anorexia nervosa can starve to death. In some cases, a lack of essential minerals causes the heart to stop suddenly, leading to death. People with anorexia usually deny that there is a problem. They need to be encouraged to get help.

People who have bulimia go on uncontrolled eating binges followed by purging, or removing, the food from their bodies. They purge the food by making themselves vomit or by using laxatives. Bulimia may begin in connection with a diet, but the person soon becomes unable to stop the cycle of bingeing and purging. People who have bulimia are often too ashamed of their behavior to seek help.

People with binge eating disorder regularly have an uncontrollable need to eat large amounts of food. They usually do not purge after a binge. The main physical risk of binge eating disorder are excess weight gain and unhealthy dieting. Some people use binge eating to avoid dealing with difficult emotions or stressful situations.

DisorderAnorexia NervosaBulimiaBinge Eating Disorder DefinitionDoes not eat enough food to maintain a healthy weight. Go on uncontrolled eating binges. Uncontrollable urge to eat large amounts of food. SymptomsExtreme weight loss, slow heart and breathing rates. Eating in private; bathroom visits after eating. Can’t control eating habits. Health RisksWeight loss starving lacking of essential minerals. Dehydration kidney damage lack of vitamins. Excess weight gain; unhealthy dieting; greater risk of illnesses. TreatmentChange in eating habits visit with doctor. See a mental health professional. Learn how to control eating Eat slowly and deliberately.