1. Eating Disorders Flashcards
What percentage of women + men compare their bodies to images they see on social media?
87% of women and 65% of men
What percentage of the population have Bulimia Nervosa?
How many are female?
- About 1-1.5% population overall
- 90-95% are female
What percentage of college women is affected by Bulimia Nervosa?
25% of all college women
What ethnicity is BN most prominent in?
White; Middle-to-Upper Middle Class
Where does BN peak? What weight is often observed?
- Peaks in adolescence/ young adulthood
- Often w/in normal weight range
What often precedes BN? What happens if it’s left untreated?
- Preceded by dieting/ efforts to lose weight
- Chronic if left untreated
Over time, what percentage of people fully recover from Bulimia Nervosa?
How many people improve or settle into chronic behavior?
- About 50% fully recover
- Another 25% improve
- The rest (25%) settle into lifetime of chronic behavior
According to the DSM-5, what are the basic features of Bulimia Nervosa?
Binging + compensatory behaviors
How long must basic features be present to suspect for BN?
Weekly for 3+ months
What are methods of binging?
- Eating large amts of food
- Eating is out of control
What are some compensatory behaviors?
- Purging via self-induced vomiting
- Use of diuretics, laxatives, exercise
- Fasting, food restriction
How many calories might an avg bulimic binge consist of?
Avg bulimic binge may consist of 1,500-3,000 calories
(Some individuals have reported eating up to 60,000 or more during one binge)
The majority of bulimics purge by what means?
70-80% of bulimics purge by self-induced vomiting
30% use laxatives
What qualifies as a Binge?
- Often eat “forbidden” or “avoided” foods
- Often in secret - linked w/ shame + guilt
- Binge < 2 hrs, but can be extended over time
- Must include lack of control - includes giving up
What comes before the Binge?
- Negative feelings related to body weight, shape, food
- Interpersonal stressors
- Dietary restraint - many restrict/fast b/w binges
What does the cycle of Bulimia Nervosa look like?
Anxiety → binging → fear of weight gain → purging → loss of fear of fat gain → guilt
(cycle repeats)
How can you help those struggling w/ the BN cycle?
- Help people regulate their emotions better
- Being more mindful of eating
- Making good choices
- Healthier relationship w/ body
What are some medical consequences of BN?
- Swollen salivary glands
- Severe tooth decay
- Electrolyte imbalances + dehydration
- Intestinal problems - IBS, peptic ulcers
- Calluses on fingers + hands
- Binging damages cells in stomach
What is the more severe form of BN?
Purging Type
Why does purging NOT work to lose weight?
- As soon as we chew food, our body is absorbing 50% of the calories already digested
- The more you restrict/fast, the more the body will hold onto anything it can (absorbing as much of the calories as it can)