PSY 254 - Eating Disorders PDF

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Summary

Lecture notes on eating disorders...

Description

Eating Disorders “Ideal” Beauty & Eating Disorders ● Beauty standards change over time ● There has been an increase in eating disorders over the last 3 decades ● Core issue is a morbid fear of weight gain for many eating disorders ● Types -

Anorexia Nervosa

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Bulimia Nervosa

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Binge Eating Disorder

Anorexia ● Core symptoms: -

A refusal to maintain more than 85% of normal body weight

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Intense fears of becoming overweight

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Distorted view of weight and shape

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Amenorrhea

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90-95% of cases are women

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Typically begins by 14-20

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Most patients recover, others don’t

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Highest death rate of any mental illness

Anorexia Nervosa Subtypes ● Restricting type -

Losing weight by cutting out “bad” food, eventually eliminating nearly all food, rigid diet

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Binge eating/purging type

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Lose weight by forcing themselves to vomit after meals

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Similar to bulimia nervosa

Amenorrhea -

Low body temp

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Low BP

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Slow heart rate

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Poor circulation

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Brittle hair & `nails

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Hair loss

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Metabolic and electrolyte imbalances

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Reduced bone density

Anorexia Nervosa ● Key goal for people with Anorexia is becoming thin -

Driving motivation is fear of:

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Giving in to the desire to eat

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Losing control of body shape and size

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Becoming overweight or obese

● Despite severe restrictions, people with anorexia are obsessed with food -

Thinking and reading about food, planning meals

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May be a result of food deprivation→ Starvation study

Anorexia Nervosa: Comorbidities ● Almost always underlying mental illness that manifests in the eating disorder

Bulimia Nervosa ● “Binge-purge syndrome” ● Characterized by binges ● Bouts of uncontrolled overeating during a limited period of time ● Eat objectively more than most people would or could in a similar period ● It’s also characterized by inappropriate compensatory behaviors that determine the subtype of the condition: -

Purging type

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Binge-purging type

● 90-95% of cases occur in females ● Peak age of onset between 15-20 years old ● Symptoms may last for several years with periodic letup ● About 5% of women worldwide may develop bulimia Bulimia Nervosa vs. Anorexia Nervosa Differences: ● People with Bulimia are more likely to: -

Be concerned about pleasing others, being attractive to others, and having intimate relationships

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Be sexually experienced and active...