Eating disorders are complex conditions that arise from long-standing psychological and social factors. The three main types are anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Anorexia is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Bulimia involves binge eating followed by purging. Binge eating disorder involves periods of uncontrolled eating beyond feeling full. Treatment must address the psychological, medical, nutritional, and social aspects contributing to the disorder.

1. Eating Disorders
By Gustavo Pérez

2. What are eating disorders?
 Eating disorders are complex conditions
that arise from a combination of long-
standing behavioral, emotional,
psychological, interpersonal, and social
factors.

3. What are they?
 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, bingeing, 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.

4. Disorders
 Anorexia Nervosa
 Bulimia
 Binge Eating Disorder

5. Anorexia nervosa
 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

6. Bulimia
 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.
 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

7. Binge Eating Disorder/
Compulsive Overeating
 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.

8. Psychological factors
 Low self-esteem
 Feelings of inadequacy or lack of
control in life
 Depression, anxiety, anger, or
loneliness

9. Social Factors
 Cultural pressures that glorify "thinness" and
place value on obtaining the "perfect body"
 Narrow definitions of beauty that include only
women and men of specific body weights and
shapes
 Cultural norms that value people on the basis
of physical appearance and not inner
qualities and strengths

10. Treatment
 Because eating disorders impact the whole person –
mind, body and spirit – treatment must be
comprehensive and individualized. The best eating
disorder treatment programs combine medical care,
individual, group and family therapy, nutrition
education, and other interventions tailored to the
specific needs of each individual.

11. Food Behavior
 Anorexic
 The person skips meals, takes only tiny portions, will
not eat in front of other people, eats in ritualistic
ways, and mixes strange food combinations. May
chew mouthfuls of food but spits them out before
swallowing.
 Grocery shops and cooks for the entire household,
but will not eat the tasty meals.
 Always has an excuse not to eat -- is not hungry, just
ate with a friend, is feeling ill, is upset, and so forth.

12. Food Behavior
 Bulimic
 The person gorges, usually in secret, emptying
cupboards and refrigerator. May also buy special
binge food.
 If panicked about weight gain, may purge to get rid of
the calories. May leave clues that suggest discovery
is desired -- empty boxes, cans, and food packages;
foul smelling bathrooms; running water to cover
sounds of vomiting; excessive use of mouthwash and
breath mints; and in some cases, containers of vomit
poorly hidden that invite discovery.