Low Weight Eating Disorder
Eating disorders are conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and mental health.
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common forms of eating disorders.
Anorexia nervosa
Many people with anorexia nervosa see themselves as overweight, even when they are clearly underweight.
Eating, food, and weight control become obsessions. People with anorexia nervosa typically weigh themselves repeatedly, portion food carefully, and eat very small quantities of only certain foods.
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by extreme food restriction to the point of self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
The DSM-5 currently specifies two subtypes of anorexia nervosa--the restricting type and the binge/purge type.
Those who suffer from the restricting type of anorexia nervosa go to extreme lengths, such as over-exercise and starvation, in order to keep from gaining weight, whereas those suffering from the binge/purge type tend to overeat and then compensate through some method of purging.
Adolescents who develop eating disorders do not get the calories or the nutrition they need to grow.
Anorexics have a distorted body image and that coupled with the pressures of adolescence can set the stage for anorexia.
Some psychologists suggest that anorexia represents a female's refusal to grow up.
Other psychologists propose that anorexia is an attempt by teenagers to assert control over their lives at a time when so much seems beyond their control.
Symptoms:
- Extremre thinness--to the point of emaciation
- A relentless pursuit to be thin and an unwillingness to maintain a healthy weight
- An intense fear of gaining weight
- A distorted body image and self-esteem that is influenced by perceptions of weight and shape
- A lack of menstruation in young females
- Extremely restricted diet
Over time these symptoms take a toll on the body and more symptoms develop:
- Brittle hair and nails
- Dry skin with a yellowish color
- Growth of fine hair all over the body
- Mild anemia, muscle weakness
- Severe constipation
- Heart problems
- Low blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse
- Brain damage
- Lower body temperature causing a person to feel cold all the time
- Sluggishness or lethargy
- Infertility
Over time, if not treated, Anorexia nervosa may lead to hospitilization and possibly death.
Bulimia Nervosa
People with bulimia nervosa have frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and then they feel a lack of control over these episodes.
This binge-eating is followed by behavior that compensates for the overeating such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of these behaviors.
Unlike anorexia nervosa, people with bulimia nervosa usually maintain what is considered a healthy or normal weight, while some may even be slightly overweight.
But like people with anorexia nervosa, they often fear gaining weight, want desperately to lose weight, and are intensely unhappy with their body size and shape.
Usually, bulimic behavior is done secretly because it is often accompanied by feelings of disgust or shame.
The binge-eating and purging cycle happens anywhere from several times a week to many times a day.
Some psychologists suggest that bulimia may result from a teen's feeling of isolation during adolescence or a need to find approval from others.
Some bulimics also experience depression, anxiety, and mood swings.
Other symptoms may include:
- Worn tooth enamel, increasingly sensitive teeth and decaying teeth as a result of the exposure to too much acid from the stomach when vomiting.
- Acid reflex, or other gastrointestinal problems
- Intestinal distress from laxatives
- Severe dehydration
Read "Understanding Eating Disorders" to learn more about eating disorders. There are several articles on the webpage to explore.
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