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Eating Disorders - Grade 7

Eating disorders are serious health issues characterized by abnormal eating behaviors, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). These disorders can lead to significant physical and emotional problems, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and various health complications. Treatment typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, including medical care, nutrition counseling, and therapy.

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Ramya Malarini
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14 views

Eating Disorders - Grade 7

Eating disorders are serious health issues characterized by abnormal eating behaviors, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). These disorders can lead to significant physical and emotional problems, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and various health complications. Treatment typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, including medical care, nutrition counseling, and therapy.

Uploaded by

Ramya Malarini
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Eating Disorders

What Are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are problems with the way people eat. They can harm a person's health, emotions, and
relationships. There are several types of eating disorders.

What Are the Different Types of Eating Disorders?

Common types of eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and avoidant/restrictive food
intake disorder (ARFID).

Anorexia. People with anorexia:

 eat very little on purpose. This leads to a very


low body weight.
 have an intense fear of weight gain. They fear
looking fat.
 have a distorted body image. They see
themselves as fat even when they are very
thin.

People with anorexia are very strict about what and


how much they will eat. They may think about food or
calories almost all the time.

To lose weight, some people with anorexia fast or


exercise too much.

Anorexia can lead to health problems caused by undernutrition and low body weight, such as:

 low blood pressure


 slow or irregular heartbeats
 feeling tired, weak, dizzy, or faint
 constipation and bloating
 irregular periods
 weak bones
 delayed puberty and slow growth

People with anorexia may find it hard to focus and have trouble remembering things. Mood changes and
emotional problems include:

 feeling alone, sad, or depressed


 anxiety and fears about gaining weight
 thoughts of hurting themselves

Bulimia. People with bulimia:

 overeat and feel out of control to


stop. This is called binge eating.
 do things to make up make up for
overeating. They may make
themselves throw up on purpose
after they overeat. This is called purging. To prevent weight gain they may use laxatives,
diuretics, weight loss pills, fast, or exercise a lot.
 judge themselves based on body shape and weight

People with bulimia eat much more (during a set period of time) than most people would. If a person
regularly binges and purges, it may be a sign of bulimia. Unlike people with anorexia who are very low
weight, people with bulimia may be thin, average weight, or overweight. People with bulimia often hide
their eating and purging from others.

Bulimia can lead to health problems caused by vomiting, laxatives, and diuretics, such as:

 low blood pressure


 irregular heartbeats
 feeling tired, weak, dizzy, or faint
 blood in vomit or stool (poop)
 tooth erosion and cavities
 swollen cheeks (salivary glands)

People with bulimia may have these emotional problems:

 low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression


 alcohol or drug problems
 thoughts of hurting themselves

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Binge eating. People with binge eating disorder:

 overeat and feel out of control to


stop. This is called binge eating.
 eat large amounts even when they
are not hungry
 may feel upset or guilty after binge
eating
 often gain weight, and may become
very overweight

Many people with binge eating disorder eat


faster than normal. They may eat alone so
others don't see how much they are eating.
Unlike people with bulimia, those with binge
eating disorder do not make themselves
throw up, use laxatives, or exercise a lot to
make up for binge eating. If a person binge
eats at least once a week for 3 months, it
may be a sign of binge eating disorder.

How Do Eating Disorders Affect


Health and Emotions?

Eating disorders can cause serious problems throughout the body.

Binge eating can lead to weight-related health problems, such as:

 diabetes
 high blood pressure
 high cholesterol and triglycerides
 fatty liver
 sleep apnea

People with binge eating disorders may:

 have low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression


 feel alone, out of control, angry, or helpless
 have trouble coping with strong emotions or stressful events
ARFID. People with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID):

 are not interested in food or avoid foods


 lose weight, or don't gain expected amount of weight
 are not afraid of gaining weight
 don't have a poor body image

People with ARFID don't eat because they are turned off by the smell, taste, texture, or color of food.
They may be afraid that they will choke or vomit. They don't have anorexia, bulimia, or another medical
problem that would explain their eating behaviors.

ARFID may lead to health problems that stem from poor nutrition, similar to anorexia. People with ARFID
may:

 not get enough vitamins, minerals, and protein


 need tube feeding and nutrition supplements
 grow poorly

People with ARFID are more likely to have:

 anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)


 autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit disorder (ADHD)
 problems at home and school because of eating behavior
What Causes Eating Disorders?

There's no single cause for eating disorders. Genes, environment, and stressful events all play a role.
Some things can increase a person's chance of having an eating disorder, such as:

 poor body image


 too much focus on weight or looks
 dieting at a young age
 playing sports that focus on weight (gymnastics, ballet, ice skating, and wrestling)
 having a family member with an eating disorder
 mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, or OCD

How Are Eating Disorders Diagnosed?

Health care providers and mental health professionals diagnose eating disorders based on history,
symptoms, thought patterns, eating behaviors, and an exam.

The doctor will check weight and height and compare these to previous measurements on growth charts.
The doctor may order tests to see if there is another reason for the eating problems and to check for
problems caused by the eating disorder.

How Are Eating Disorders Treated?

Eating disorders are best treated by a team that includes a doctor, dietitian, and therapist. Treatment
includes nutrition counseling, medical care, and talk therapy (individual, group, and family therapy). The
doctor might prescribe medicine to treat binge eating, anxiety, depression, or other mental health
concerns.

The details of the treatment depend on the type of eating disorder and how severe it is. Some people are
hospitalized because of extreme weight loss and medical complications.

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