the psychology of eating disorders

Question 1

what is anorexia nervosa?

Answer 1

Restriction of energy intake relative to requirements leading to a significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health

Question 2

why do people have anorexia nervosa?

Answer 2

Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
Disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight

Question 3

what is bulimia nervosa?

Answer 3

Recurrent episodes of binge eating by having BOTH of:

• eating large amounts if food in a short period of time
• sense of lack of control over eating during an episode

Question 4

what are the features of binge eating disorder?

Answer 4

eating, in a discrete period of time more than most people would eat during a similar period and under similar circumstances
lack of control over eating
eating faster than normal
eating until feeling uncomfortably full
eating large amounts of food when not hungry
eating alone as embarrassed by how much one is eating
feeling disgusted, depressed or guilty afterwards

Question 5

how frequent is binge eating?

Answer 5

at least once a week for three months