Eating Disorders Flashcards
Anorexia nervosa
Not eating enough to satisfy body’s requirements: results in significantly low body weight
Intense fear of gaining weight
Seeing self as heavier than body actually is
Anorexia specifiers
Restricting type: starving self (body begins to attack organs after burning through fat stores- organs shut down)
Binge-eating/purging type: uncontrolled eating followed by getting rid of food through vomiting or laxatives
How severity of anorexia is based
Severity is based on BMI
Medical impact of anorexia
Discontinuation of menstrual cycle Dry skin Development of fine, peach-fuzzy hair all over body Hypothermia Hypotension (low blood pressure) Electrolyte imbalance Hormonal imbalance Brittle hair, nails, bones
Epidemiology of anorexia
10x more common in females
Age of onset: teens
Common in people who are Caucasian, middle/upper middle class, come from perfectionistic households
Causes and contributors to anorexia
Genetic links (over 50%) Hormonal imbalances in hunger mechanism Early or late onset of puberty Low sense of personal control and confidence Perfectionism Preoccupation with body image and food Emotion dysregulation
Treatments for anorexia
1st priority: weight restoration Contingency management (reward people for eating) Cognitive restructuring (attacking perceptions of self)
Bulimia nervosa
Recurrent episodes of uncontrolled, excess consumption of food followed by compensatory behavior
Not effective strategy for losing weight: most people with this disorder are of average weight or overweight
Typical binge in bulimia
Up to 3000-5000 calories in a 2 hour period
Uncontrolled
Compensatory behaviors in bulimia
Purging (getting food directly out of system): vomiting, diuretics, laxatives
Non-purging (getting rid of calories without getting rid of food): exercise, fasting
How severity of bulimia is based
Based on number of times compensatory behavior is performed in a week
Typical pattern of bulimia
Binge: hungry, regulate emotions (try to make self feel better)
Guilt
Purge
Medical impact of bulimia
Generally “average” weight
Electrolyte imbalance
Vomiting: eroded dental enamel, scar tissue in throat
Laxatives: intestinal/colon problems
Epidemiology of bulimia
10x more common in females
Age of onset: usually late teens, but can be in college
Causes and contributors to bulimia
Genetic links Lowered serotonin Cycle of dietary restriction Low sense of personal control and confidence Preoccupation with food and body image Emotional dysregulation
