Eating Disorders

Question 1

bulimia nervosa

Answer 1

repeated episodes of binge eating, planned or spontaneous: feelings of discomfort soon replaced by shame and guilt
inappropriate compensatory behaviours
after binge, person does something to make up for it = purge
complications: rupture of stomach, erosion of enamel, sensitive gag reflex
secrecy
COMORBIDITY: depression, anxiety, BP, OCD, substance abuse disorders

Question 2

anorexia nervosa

Answer 2

extreme emaciation/weight loss
disturbed perception of body 
starvation
food avoidance 
symptoms: decrease in sex drive, lack of impulse, abdominal pain, lethargy, dry/cracked skin, impaired kidney function, fine body hair, anaemia, infertility, cardiovascular difficulties 
COMORBIDITY: OCD & depression

Question 3

bulimia vs. anorexia

Answer 3

B/N
- binge eating w/ compensatory behaviours
- normal weight
- distressed by lack of control
- awareness of problem (shame)
A/N
- extreme diet
- below normal weight
- comforted by strict self control
- denial of problem

Question 4

not otherwise specified

Answer 4

engages behaviours of both A/N & B/N, has components of each = mixed
binge eating with compensatory behaviours
“typical” eaters get caught in diagnosis
medicalization of a cultural problem?

Question 5

binge eating disorder

Answer 5

recurring episodes of eating far more food than the average person in a short period of time, seen as inappropriate to others
EPISODES: out of control, secretive, accompanied by guilt
DIAGNOSIS: common in middle aged male and females
medicalization of a cultural problem?

Question 6

classification of eating disorders

Answer 6

relatively new, bulimia didn’t appear in DSM till 80s
eating disorders = snapshot?
unstable diagnosis which may shift
no diagnosis = no insurance for treatment

Question 7

anorexia and suicide

Answer 7

anorexia = form of chronic suicide?
restriction of food = attempt to die?
ALARM CALL: using the body to send a message that something else is going on

Question 8

social etiological theory of e/d

Answer 8

BEAUTY
media = high standards of beauty
weight does down = eating disorder diagnostic rates go up

Question 9

interpersonal etiological theory of e/d

Answer 9

FAMILY
emphasis on family relationships/environment
more emotion expressed = more likely to develop e/d
A/N = high cohesion, high involvement in one’s life
B/N = low cohesion, high discourse

Question 10

evolutionary etiological theory of e/d

Answer 10

COMPETITION
A/N = withdraw from competition of mating
B/N = desire to compete

Question 11

psychological etiological theory of e/d

Answer 11

to understand A/N = look at the average, good, typical, middle class, well educated, white girl who has good relationships, people pleaser etc.
desire to be perfect & look a certain way = food intake is the only thing she can control = rebellion against parents/society

Question 12

eating disorders in men

Answer 12

too thin/too overweight = problem
obsession with muscles = obsession with food
far less likely to be reported/talked about = rates are probably higher
stigmatization as feminine disorder

Question 13

cultural component of epidemiology e/d

Answer 13

e/d most common in wealthier nations
- broader understandings of weight
- different patterns of food consumption
western lifestyle = mental illness

Question 14

epidemiology of e/d

Answer 14

most common in middle class women 
occurs later in life: spectrum has widened

Question 15

pro ana & pro mia

Answer 15

promoting the idea that eating disorders are a lifestyle, not a disorder
online sites: tips, support, inspiration, guides, to maintain eating disorders
emphasis on personal choice
medical community = glamourized
WANNEREXIA: want to have e/d but do not