EATING DISORDERS

Definitions
 

Anorexia nervosa: the relentless pursuit of thinness

         Person refuses to maintain normal body weight for age and height.

         Weighs 85% or less than what is expected for age and height.

         In women, menstrual periods stop. In men levels of sex hormones fall.

         Young girls do not begin to menstruate at the appropriate age

         Person denies the dangers of low weight.

         Is terrified of becoming fat.

         Is terrified of gaining weight even though s/he is markedly
     underweight.

         Reports feeling fat even when very thin.

     In addition to the above, anorexia nervosa often includes depression,
     irritability, withdrawal, and peculiar behaviors such as compulsive rituals,
     strange eating habits, and division of foods into "good/safe" and
     "bad/dangerous" categories.
 

      Bulimia nervosa: the diet-binge-purge disorder

         Person binge eats.

         Feels out of control while eating.

         Vomits, misuses laxatives, exercises, or fasts to get rid of the calories.

         Diets when not bingeing. Becomes hungry and binges again.

         Believes self-worth requires being thin.

         May shoplift, be promiscuous, and abuse alcohol, drugs, and credit
     cards.

         Weight may be normal or near normal unless anorexia is also present.

     Like anorexia, bulimia can kill. Even though the person puts up a cheerful
     front, s/he is often depressed, lonely, ashamed, and empty inside. Friends
     of bulimics may describe them as competent and fun to be with, but
     underneath, where they hide their guilty secrets, they are hurting. Feeling
     unworthy, they have great difficulty talking about their feelings, which
     almost always include anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and deeply buried
     anger.
 

      Binge eating disorder: sometimes called compulsive eating

         The person binge eats frequently and repeatedly.

         Feels out of control and unable to stop eating during binges.

         May eat rapidly and secretly, or may snack and nibble all day long.

         Feels guilty and ashamed of binge eating.

         Has a history of diet failures

         Tends to be depressed and obese.

     People who have binge eating disorder do not regularly vomit,
     overexercise, or abuse laxatives like bulimics do. They may be genetically
     predisposed to weigh more than the cultural ideal (which at present is
     exceedingly unrealistic), so they diet, make themselves hungry, and then
     binge in response to that hunger. Or they may eat for emotional reasons:
     to comfort themselves, avoid threatening situations, and numb emotional
     pain. Regardless of the reason, diet programs are not the answer. In fact,
     diets almost always make matters worse.
 

      Anorexia athletica: sometimes called compulsive exercising or
activity anorexia

         The person repeatedly exercises beyond the requirements for good
     health.

         May be a fanatic about weight and diet.

         Steals time to exercise from work, school, and relationships.

         Focuses on challenge. Forgets that physical activity can be fun.

         Defines self-worth in terms of performance.

         Is rarely or never satisfied with athletic achievements.

         Does not savor victory. Pushes on to the next challenge immediately.

         Justifies excessive behavior by defining self as a "special" elite
     athlete.

     Compulsive exercising is not a recognized diagnosis as are anorexia,
     bulimia, and binge eating disorder. We include it here because many
     people who are preoccupied with food and weight exercise compulsively
     in attempts to control weight. The real issues are not weight and
     performance excellence but rather power, control, and self-respect.

 
 
       Please Note: the information on this page is not a substitute for medical
          treatment or psychological care. For help with the physical and emotional
          problems associated with eating and exercise disorders, talk to your
          physician and a competent mental health professional.