Disordered Eating and The Female Athlete Triad Flashcards
Female Athlete Triad
interrelationships among energy availability, menstrual function, and bone mineral density
What does disruption of LH and FSH do?
shuts down stimulation to the ovary, ceasing control of estradiol
low estradiol creates a hormonal environment that mimics menopause
spectrum of energy availability
- clinical eating disorders
- subclinical eating disorders
- low energy availability
- adequate energy availability
- excessing energy availability
Primary amenorrhea
-absence of menstruation by age 16 in a girl with secondary sex characteristics
Secondary amenorrhea
-absence of 3 or more consecutive menstrual cycles in a girl who has begun menstruating
Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea
- low body fat levels and exercise related chemicals disrupt the interplay of sex hormones estrogen and progesterone
- directly attributable to a low energy availability
Spectrum of bone health
- low bone mass
- stress fractures
- osteoporosis
How is bone strength characterized
by bone mineral content and the quality of the bone
bone quality
the process of bone turnover
most accepted diagnostic tool?
DEXA
Osteoporosis
chronic condition characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissues leading to enhanced skeletal fragility and increased risk of fracture
Principle cause of premenopausal osteoporosis in active women
decreased ovarian hormone production and hypestrogenemia
Sports that are at risk for the female athlete triad
-figure skating, dance, distance running, diving, swimming, body building, track, cheerleading, wrestling, gymnastics
Spectrum of eating disorders
- normal eating patterns
- disordered eating
- eating disorders
Who establishes fixed criteria that individuals must meet in order to be diagnosed with an eating disorder?
DSM-IV
Anorexia nervosa
- characterized by self-starvation
- weight is less than 85% of normal weight
- have an intense fear of gaining weight
- distorted sense of their body shape
- loss of menstrual period for 3 months
- 2 types
What are the 2 subtypes of anorexia nervosa?
- restricting
- binge eating/purging
Psychology of anorexia nervosa
- intense fear of gaining weight/becoming fat
- sense of worth is contingent upon weight
- strong desire to please others
- need for structure
- tendency to be more shy and withdrawn than average
- low self-esteem
Bulimia nervosa
- recurrent binge eating episodes
- binge=large amount of food in less than 2 hours
- recurrent purging behaviour to prevent weight gain
- frequency: more that 2/week for 3 months
- preoccupation with body shape and weight
- specify life between purging and non-purging
Purging
- vomiting
- laxatives/diuretics
- diet pills
Nonpurging
- fasting
- excessive exercise
psychology of bulimia nervosa
- fear of becoming fat/gaining weight
- self-worth contingent upon weight
- food as an emotional pacifier
- shame
- loss of control/impulsivity
- need for approval
Physical findings of bulimia nervosa
- stomach acid eroding tooth enamel, resulting in discolouration and cavities
- removal of sodium and potassium from the body causing an electrolyte imbalance and potential arrhythmia
- irritation and tears in the lining of throat, esophagus, and stomach
- inability to have normal bowel movements as person might have dependance on laxatives
- abuse of emetics to induce vomiting can result in toxicity, heart failure, death
Body Dismorphic disorder
-a somatoform disorder marked by a pre-occupation with an imagined or trivial defect in appearance that causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
Anorexia athletica
-shows signs of disordered eating and distorted body image
fails to meet all specific diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa
-not considered a true eating order using DSM IV criteria
-intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
-restriction of food
-compulsive exercise and over-training
-amenorrhea may not be present***
-occasional bingeing and purging
-can easily progress to anorexia or bulimia
physical warning signs of an eating disorder
- intolerance to cold
- dizziness
- constipation
- loss of muscle tone
- frequent weight fluctuations
- impaired concentration
- swollen salivary glands
- puffiness in cheeks
- broken blood vessels in eyes
- complains of sore throat, fatigue, and muscle aches
- tooth decay
behavioural warning signs of an eating disorder
- restricted food intake
- eliminating certain foods/whole food groups
- fear of food
- excuse of picky eater
- excessive exercise
- regular weighing
- frequent comments about weight, calories, food and fat content
- frequent bathroom visits following meals
- moodiness
- withdrawal from others
- ritualistic eating or food behaviours
attitudinal warning signs of an eating disorder
- dichotomous thinking
- denial of eating problem
- perfectionistic standards
- harsh self criticism
- self worth determined by weight
Goals of treatment in an eating disorder
- normalization of body weight
- normalization of eating
- treatment of co-morbid psychiatric conditions
- treat/prevent medical complications
- prevention of relapse
