Eating Disorders

1
Eating Disorders

• A. Incidence in world vs. fitness population
• 19/20 are women
• 1 of population
• 3 of fitness population

2
Anorexia Nervosa

• Eating Disorders

• Define
• An eating disorder characterized by self imposed
  starvation to lose maintain very low body
  weight
• Diagnostic criteria
• Refusal to maintain normal body weight or less
  than 85 of normal weight

3
Clinical Characteristics

• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
• Distorted body image
• Amenorrhea- periods cease.
• Regular starvation
• Anorexics hide their self perceived fatness
  not their thinness

4
Bulimia Nervosa

• Bulimia
• Define
• An eating disorder characterized by a pattern of
  binge eating and purging in an attempt to lose
  weight and maintain low body weight
• Diagnostic criteria
• Recurrent episodes of binge eating-
• Binge eating is characterized by eating a large
  amount of food (more than what anyone considers
  normal) in a short period of time
• Lack of control over eating during the episode

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Clinical characteristics of Bulimia Nervosa.

• Recurring behaviors to prevent weight gain such
  as self induced vomiting, laxative misuse,
  diuretics, fasting or excessive exercise
• Binge episode occur at least 2 times a week for 3
  months
• Binge eating causes distress
• Self image is unduly influenced by body shape and
  weight
• Usually occurs in stages starts out slow under
  stress

6
Some differences between AN and BN.

• Unlike anorexics, bulimics recognize their
  behavior is abnormal, they feel shame, secrecy
  about behaviors
• Anorexic sufferers do become hungry, Bulimic
  sufferers battle with intense hunger.

7
Bulimia Nervosa cont.

• Facts and Statistics

• 90-95 are Women
• White Middle-to-Upper Middle Class
• Onset 16-19 Years of Age
• 6-8 College Women some studies 20
• About 1-2 Population Overall
• Chronic if Left Untreated

8
Anorexia Nervosa cont.
MALES ATTRACTIVE
Distorted Body Image
Females Attractive
Females Ideal
Females Current
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Cognitive-Behavioural Theory of Bulimia Nervosa
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Causes of Eating Disorders

• . Social and Cultural Factors
• Thinness Equals Success
• Has Increased Over Time
• Scarlett OHara Effect
• 2. Media
• Sets Impossible Idealised Images
• Examples playboy centerfolds, Barbie, models

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Causes of Eating Disorders cont.

• Biological Influences
• A. Genetics
• Runs in Families (4-5x more likely)
• Monozygotic Twins have higher concordance rates
  (23) for eating disorders than dizygotic twins
  (9)
• Unclear What is Inherited
• B. Other Biological Influences
• Cause vs. Starvation?
• Example low serotonin levels in patients with
  Bulimia

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Causes of Eating Disorders cont.

• Dieting?
• Dieting has increased considerably
• 1950 7 men, 14 women
• 1999 29 men, 44 women
• Women are more dissatisfied with current weight,
  more likely to be dieting, more likely to place
  importance on appearance than men
• Normal weight women perceive themselves as fat
• Dieting often precedes eating disorders

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Treatment of Eating Disorders

• Biological Treatments
• Antidepressants
• Bulimia
• Decrease depression
• Decrease purging
• High drop out rates
• High relapse
• Anorexia
• Generally not effective

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Treatment of Eating Disorders cont.

• Example Behavioural Family Systems Therapy for
  Anorexia
• I. Assessment
• Need for Hospitalization
• Weight, Menstruation, Eating habits, Exercise,
  mood, medical changes, development, school,
  family interaction, peer relationships
• II. Control Rationale
• Parents are responsible for all aspects of the
  childs eating (buying, preparing, etc.)

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Treatment of Eating Disorders cont.

• Example Behavioural Family Systems Therapy for
  Anorexia cont.
• III. Weight Gain
• Parent continues control of eating
• Ensures adolescent gains weight
• Other issues may be explored cognitive
  distortions, family problems
• IV. Weight Maintenance
• Enter this stage once normal weight has been
  achieved
• Control of eating is shifted to adolescent

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Strategies to prevent

• . Be a good role model
• 2. Focus on healthy eating habits rather than
  weight loss
• Establish foundation of self esteem that includes
  other areas besides weight
• Support eating regularly
• Focus on bringing out the attributes and beauty
  of EACH INDIVIDUALS BODY.

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Eating Disorders Links

• http//www.aabainc.org/
• http//www.aabainc.org/
• http//www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
• http//www.something-fishy.org/
• http//www.remuda-ranch.com