Anorexia Nervosa:
Anorexia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation
and excessive weight loss.
Anorexia Nervosa has four primary symptoms:
Resistance to maintaining body weight at or above a minimally
normal weight for age and height Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat” even though underweight.
Disturbance
in the experience of body weight or shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness
of low body weight.
Loss of menstrual periods in girls and women post-puberty.
Bulimia Nervosa:
Bulimia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of binging
and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating.
Bulimia
Nervosa has three primary symptoms:
Regular intake of large amounts of food accompanied by a sense of loss of control
over eating behavior.
Regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic
abuse, fasting, and/or obsessive or compulsive exercise.
Extreme concern with body weight and shape.
Causes of Eating Disorders:
While eating disorders may begin with preoccupations with food and weight,
they are most often about much more than food. Eating disorders are complex conditions that arise from a combination of long-standing
behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, and social factors. Scientists and researchers are still learning about
the underlying causes of these emotionally and physically damaging conditions. We do know, however, about some of the general
issues that can contribute to the development of eating disorders. People with eating disorders often use food and the control
of food in an attempt to compensate for feelings and emotions that may otherwise seem over-whelming. For some, dieting, binging,
and purging may begin as a way to cope with painful emotions and to feel in control of one’s life, but ultimately, these
behaviors will damage a person’s physical and emotional health, self-esteem, and sense of competence and control.
