Special Topic: Eating Disorders

Question 1

eating disorder

Answer 1

-an illness, needing professional intervention-freq. persistent thoughts and behaviors about the body, food, and eating that leads to problems in reg. functioning

Question 2

ED stats

Answer 2

-1-4 teen girls practice some form of disordered eating (basically dieting)-by grade 6, 1/4 girls been on a diet-30% of ontario girls 10-14yr at healthy weight still dieting to lose weight-13% of girls 15-17 taken part in behavior: compulsive eating, throwing up, refusing to eat-anorexia nervosa mortality rate 12x higher than death rate of all causes of death for females 15-24 years old (LIFE THREATENING illness)

Question 3

risk factors

Answer 3

personality.identity difficulties.need for approval.perfectionism, obsessive.irrational thinking (CT distortions).difficulty coping (w stress)interpersonal.relationships w/ family/personal trouble-difficulty expressing emotions/feelings-history of being bullied on height/weight.history of physical/sexual abusesocial/cultural.culture glorifies thinness, perfect body.narrow definitions of beauty, certain shapes/sizes.value on physical appearance rather than inside things

Question 4

anorexia nervosa

Answer 4

-super lo body weight, -SELF-STARVATION-intense fear of gaining weight despite being underweight-distorted body image

Question 5

bulimia nervosa

Answer 5

-binge eating & purging (vomiting, laxatives, diuretics)-lack of control over eating during episode-independent of weight (can be normal weight)-secret, shameful-purging feels amazing :(

Question 6

binge-eating disorder

Answer 6

-bulimia W/O purging-1/5 obese people engage in binge eating-1/5 young women affected by binge eating-40% of men report falling victim to symptoms

Question 7

EDNOS

Answer 7

-eating disorder not otherwise specified-if do not fit a criteria completely, some symptoms don’t totally meet required

Question 8

Anorexia Athletica

Answer 8

-exercise beyond requirements of good health-may be weight/diet fanatic-rarely satisfied by athletic achievements-defines self-worth in terms of performance

Question 9

Hospital treatment goals

Answer 9

inpatient - get back to “healthy” weightoutpatient - maintain gains, integrate into daily life supportednormalization of attitudes toward eating/weightnutritional rehab - weight restoration and normalizing eating

Question 10

Treatments

Answer 10

-little known about prevention/management/treatment-medications not proven effective-interpersonal/CBT initially effective but not long-term-multidisciplinary approach preferred treatment

Question 11

treatment statistics for eating disorders

Answer 11

30-50% require rehospitalisation within 1 year70% never fully recover

Question 12

how has focus in treatment changed for eating disorders?

Answer 12

-movmt away from CBT-focus on early maladaptive emotional schemas as source of disorder-growing interest in dealing directly emotion/affect-eating habits provide a window into individual’s emotional health, indicate emotional imbalances, distorted thinking…

Question 13

What painful feelings does eating disorder avoid for each disorder? AN, BN, BED

Answer 13

AN: restrict to numb feelingsBN: binge eat pushes down feelings, while purging PURGES emotionsBED: binge eating comforts and soothes

Question 14

As counsellors, how can we help?

Answer 14

-Can be VERY difficult to engage with these clients-early intervention is best-COMPLETE acceptance of whatever students might say about the behaviors that trouble them-Let person know they have choices-Recognize maladaptive way to cope with problems, but best they had at time-Follow-up and express your continued support

Question 15

Warning signs

Answer 15

-complain about bodies or say too fat even though normal weight or thin-talk about dieting or avoiding nutritious foods b/c fattening-teased about weight-spend more time alone-obsessed with maintaining low weight to enhance performance in sports/dance/acting whatevs