Eating Disorders Flashcards
Week 6
What are the different variants of eating disorders?
Bulimia
anorexia nervosa (restricting and binge-purge)
binge-eating disorder
orthorexia
What is the BMI diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervousa?
BMI <17.5 kg/m2 or 15% below their ‘normal’ weight
WHat is the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervousa?(6)
There are 2 diagnostic criteria (WHO and DSM).
1. refusal to maintain body weight at or above minimally normal weight for age and height.
2. maintenance of body weight below 85% of that expected
3. intense fear and intrusive idea or weight gain, becoming fat even though underweight
4. endocrine disorder including increased cortisol and amenorrhea (>3 consecutive cycles)
5. vomiting, purging, direurtic use or exessive exercise
6. denial of seriousness of behaviour and body weight and body dysmorphia
What are the charcteristics of bulimia nervousa? (4)
- cycled eating between starving and binging
- use of laxatives, diuretics or purging
- BMI usually normal although fluctutions can be erratic
- driven by the over-valuation of thinness and attempts to lose weight
What are the diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervousa? (4)
There are 2 diagnostic crietria (DSM and WHO).
1. recurrent episodes of binge eating following immense food cravings (lack of control over eating for a period of time)
2. recurrent compensatory behaviour following binge eating to prevent weight gain - attempt to counterbalance fattening (purging, laxatives, diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise).
3. occurs >2 x weekly for 3 months.
4. morbid dread of fattness
What are some characteristics of a binge eating disorder? (4)
- often associated with increased stress
- repeated episodes or binge eating followed by purging, laxatives or diuretics
- hisotry of repeated dieting attempts
- weight cycling
What are some characteristics of partial syndrome eating disorder? (2)
- diagnostic criteria for other eating disorders are met apart from one criteria (i.e menarche still present in anorexia nervousa)
- often doesnt fully represent an eating disorder and often gets better without medical help
What are some aetioogical factors or eating disorders? (5)
- biological, environmental and psychological factors
- Heredity and genetic predisposition
- Controlling and rule-bound behaviours (perfectionism etc) (Giles et al., 2022)
- genetic infuences on neurotransmitters (seretonin in particular) (Bailer et al., 2011)
- Stressful events (childhood trauma, bullying, grief, puberty)
What is the UK prevalence for eating disorders? What percentage are female? What are the limitations of estimate prevalence?
estimated >700,000 people suffer from eating disorders, 90% female.
Limitation: prevalence may not be accurate due to reluctancy to acknowledge eating disorder and seek treatment (NICE 2019)
Who are most likely at risk of an eating disorder?
Heterosexual girls and gay/bisexual boys of teenage agE
All sexual minority youth
What are some medical complications of eating disorders?
- Malnutrition
- Mental function/disorders (altered CNS)
- suicide
- cardiac complications
- Functional impairment including osteopaenia and eventually osteoperosis
- endocrine dysfunction/supression of hormones (specifically gonadal hormones)
- gastrointestinal complications
- reduced immune function
- compensatory behaviours - acid erosion to teeth,acid reflux and damaged GI
What are some nutiritonally specific problems that occur in those with an eating disorder?
- micronutrient deficiencies
- Loss of appetite regulation
- binge eating can lead to obesity
- protein deficiency
- electrolyte and fluid imbalance (odaema)
WHat are some treatment/nutritional strategies for eating disorders?
- psychological support
- appetite restoration
- supplementation to ensure micronutrients needed for efficient metaolism are available
- controlled fluid intake to prevent cardiac overload
- gradual reintorduction of calories
- restoration of weight
- support to avoid relapse
