Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders are a serious mental health issue. One in ten cases of anorexia nervosa leads to death from starvation, cardiac arrest, and kidney failure, other medical complications, or suicide; furthermore, people with this disorder may die without treatment. Treatment usually begins in an outpatient facility, hospitalization may be necessary in serious cases. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating are three examples of psychiatric eating disorders.

Bulimia Nervosa is a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging. Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food, more than most people eat in one meal. They would then get rid of the food by self inflicted vomiting, over use of laxatives, or over exercising. They will hide the fact that they throw up, by running water in the bathroom. This person may have many sore throats with swelling of the cheeks from vomiting. Dieting heavily between the binging and purging is also common. Eventually, half of those with anorexia will develop bulimia. Eating disorders involves serious disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme and unhealthy reduction of the food they take in or severe overeating, as well as feelings of distress or extreme worry about their body shape or weight. These disorders can develop as a young child and early adulthood. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating are three examples of psychiatric eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa is when one starves themself and has excessive weight loss. A teenager with this disorder maybe a perfectionist and high achiever in school; at the same time, he or she suffers from low self-esteem, believing they are fat regardless how skinny that person has become. In a non-stop pursuit to be thin the person starves themself. This may often lead to the point of serious damage to the body and could also lead to death.

Binge Eating Disorder, which also may be known as Compulsive Overeating, is when one eats beyond the point of feeling full. They are rapid eaters and may hide food because they are embarrassed about how much they are eating. This person will have feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt with overeating. This disorder is different from bulimia because people with Binge Eating Disorder usually do not purge afterward by vomiting or using laxatives. While there is no purging, they may try many different diets and have feelings of shame after a binge.

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