EATING DISORDER
Anorexia Nervosa
Causes
Psychological Factors: Low self-esteem, perfectionism, and a distorted body image.
Biological Factors: Genetic predisposition and hormonal changes.
Environmental Factors: Societal pressures, cultural ideals of thinness, and family dynamics.
Symptoms
Behavioral Symptoms: Severe restriction of food intake, excessive exercise, and avoidance of social situations involving food.
Emotional Symptoms: Intense fear of gaining weight, preoccupation with food, and denial of hunger.
Physical Symptoms: Extreme weight loss, low body weight, fatigue, dizziness, and intolerance to cold.
Treatment
Nutritional Rehabilitation: Focus on restoring healthy eating patterns and weight gain.
Family Therapy: Involving family members to support the individual and address family dynamics that may contribute to the disorder.
Psychotherapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is commonly used to address distorted thinking patterns.
Bulimia Nervosa
Causes
Biological Factors: Genetic components and neurobiological influences.
Sociocultural Factors: Media portrayal of ideal body types and societal pressure to be thin.
Psychological Factors: Issues with self-esteem, body image, and emotional regulation.
Symptoms
Physical Symptoms: Binge eating followed by purging behaviors (vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use), dental erosion, and gastrointestinal issues.
Emotional Symptoms: Guilt and shame associated with eating, anxiety, and depression.
Behavioral Symptoms: Secretive eating habits, hoarding food, and frequent trips to the bathroom after meals.
Treatment
Medication: Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may help reduce binge-purge cycles.
Nutritional Counseling: Education on balanced eating and developing a healthy relationship with food.
Psychotherapy: CBT and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help manage emotions and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Binge eating Disorder
Causes
Biological Factors: Genetic predisposition and neurochemical imbalances.
Sociocultural Factors: Stigmatization of obesity and societal pressures regarding body image.
Psychological Factors: Emotional distress, low self-esteem, and a history of dieting.
Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms: Feelings of shame, guilt, and distress related to eating habits.
Behavioral Symptoms: Eating in secret, feeling out of control during binges, and not engaging in compensatory behaviors (unlike bulimia).
Physical Symptoms: Recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food, often to the point of discomfort.
Treatment
Medication: Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) and other medications may be prescribed to reduce binge eating episodes.
Nutritional Counseling: Focus on establishing regular eating patterns and understanding nutritional needs.
Psychotherapy: CBT and interpersonal therapy to address the underlying emotional issues and develop healthier eating patterns.