FOOD ISSUES

TYPES OF EATING DISORDERS

1. Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by a significant weight loss resulting from excessive dieting. A person weighs 85% or less than what is expected for age and height Is terrified of becoming fat. Even though the person is markedly underweight. Feels fat even when very thin. In women, menstrual periods stop.

In men levels of sex hormones fall. In addition, 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.

erson may have low tolerance for change and new situations; may fear growing up and assuming adult responsibilities and an adult lifestyle. May be overly engaged with or dependent on parents or family. Dieting may represent avoidance of, or ineffective attempts to cope with, the demands of a new life stage such as adolescence.

2. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by purging to try and rid the body of unwanted calories. Feels out of control while eating. Tries to get rid of the calories through vomiting, laxatives, exercises, or fasting.

Alternates between dieting and bingeing. Weight may be normal or near normal unless anorexia is also present. Like anorexia, bulimia can kill.

3. Binge eating disorder is characterized by consuming large quantities of food in a very short period of time until the individual is uncomfortably full. The person binge eats frequently and repeatedly Feels guilty and ashamed of binge eating.

People who have binge eating disorder do not regularly vomit, over-exercise, or abuse laxatives like bulimics do. They may be genetically predisposed to weigh more than the cultural ideal, so they diet, make themselves hungry, and then binge in response to that hunger. Alternatively, they may eat for emotional reasons.

4. Compulsive overeating is characterized by uncontrollable eating and consequent weight gain. Compulsive overeaters use food as a way to cope with stress, emotional conflicts and daily problems.

Compulsive overeating usually starts in early childhood when eating patterns are formed. The more weight that is gained, the harder they try to diet and dieting is usually what leads to the next binge, which can be followed by feelings of powerlessness, guilt, shame and failure.

Dieting and bingeing can go on forever if the emotional reasons for the bingeing are not dealt with.

WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS SHOPPING