Eating Disorders Defined

What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating Disorders are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for females and males. Eating Disorders — such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder — include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.

ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Symptoms include:

• Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level
  
• Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”
  
• Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
  
• Loss of menstrual periods
  
• Extreme concern with body weight and shape

BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging. Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food — more than most people would eat in one meal — in short periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or over-exercising. Symptoms include:

• Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
  
• Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness
  
• Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
  
• Frequent dieting
  
• Extreme concern with body weight and shape

BINGE EATING DISORDER (also known as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING) is characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat compulsively may struggle with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating. Body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.

OTHER EATING DISORDERS can include some combination of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. While these behaviors may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally draining. All eating disorders require professional help.

The Drive for Thinness

In the United States, conservative estimates indicate that after puberty, 5-10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men are struggling with eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or borderline conditions. (Crowther et al., 1992; Fairburn et al., 1993; Gordon, 1990; Hoek, 1995; Shisslak et al., 1995)

Because of the secretiveness and shame associated with eating disorders, many cases are probably not reported. In addition, many individuals struggle with body dissatisfaction and sub-clinical disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. For example, 80% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance (Smolak, 1996).

Here are a few statistics...

• 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991).
  
• 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991).
  
• The average American woman is 5’4" tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5’11" tall and weighs 117 pounds.
  
• Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of Am. women (Smolak, 1996).
  
• 51% of 9 and 10 year-old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet (Mellin et al., 1991).
  
• 46% of 9-11 year-olds are "sometimes" or "very often" on diets, and 82% of their families are "sometimes" or "very often" on diets (Gustafson-Larson & Terry, 1992).
  
• 91% of women recently surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting, 22% dieted "often" or "always" (Kurth et al., 1995).
  
• 95% of all dieters will regain their lost weight in 1-5 years (Grodstein, 1996).
  
• 35% of "normal dieters" progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders (Shisslak & Crago, 1995).
  
• 25% of American men and 45% of American women are on a diet on any given day (Smolak, 1996).
  
• Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting and diet-related products each year (Smolak, 1996).

Help is Just a Phone Call Away

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, seek help today. To discuss eating disorder treatment options as well as health plan coverage, call the Eating Disorder Program Coordinator at South Coast Medical Center at (949) 499-7504. Many health plans provide coverage for eating disorder treatment.

For More Information

For further details on South Coast Medical Center's Eating Disorder program, call (949) 499-7504. Or email us with your questions.

Source: National Eating Disorder Association