EATING DISORDERS

Better Life Therapy offers compassionate outpatient treatment for individuals with eating disorders

WHAT IS AN EATING DISORDER?

An eating disorder is a complex behavioral disorder in which a person’s patterns of eating and exercise are changed in ways that threaten their physical and mental health. Though eating is in the name, eating disorders are about much more than food and diet.

A person with an eating disorder may have started out eating smaller or larger amounts of food, often in an effort to lose weight. For most people, changing their eating habits in these small ways does not lead to an eating disorder. However, for those with a genetic predisposition to disordered eating, small changes in diet can lead to a full-blown eating disorder.

Individuals with eating disorders often feel extreme distress and concern about their body weight and shape. This body image distress may start out small, but paradoxically grows as the eating disorder worsens. Being deeply unsatisfied with one’s body weight and shape can lead to changes in eating habits, which may include restriction of food, food binges, or purging behaviors like vomiting or over-exercising.

Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

Though eating is in the name, eating disorders are about much more than food and diet.

WHY DOES SOMEONE DEVELOP AN EATING DISORDER?

The causes of eating disorder are complex, but researchers are learning more every day. Eating disorders are caused by a complex interaction of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors. There is no single reason someone develops an eating disorder. Eating disorders are not rooted in vanity or superficiality; they are serious medical, psychological and physical disorders.

One common factor in eating disorder is genetics. Researchers are studying gene combinations to determine if any DNA variations are linked to the risk of developing eating disorders. Twin studies are one of psychological science’s most powerful research tools, because identical twins share 100% of their DNA yet often live with different environmental factors. An aggregate of these studies has shown that if one twin develops an eating disorder, the other has about a 50% likelihood of developing one too. This means we may attribute about 50% of the cause of an eating disorder to one’s genes.

Biology is another factor. We know that levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine may be factors in developing an eating disorder.

Cultural impacts also have an effect. There is typically a lower prevalence of eating disorders in cultures that place a smaller emphasis on beauty standards.

Researchers are studying questions about behavior, genetics, and brain function to better understand risk factors, to identify biological markers, and to develop specific psychotherapies and medications that can target areas in the brain that control eating behavior. Neuroimaging and genetic studies may provide clues for how each person may respond to specific treatments for these illnesses.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF EATING DISORDERS?

Anorexia Nervosa

The key symptom of anorexia nervosa is extreme restriction of food intake. For people living with anorexia nervosa, eating, food, and weight control are often 24-hour per day obsessions.

Many people with anorexia nervosa see themselves as overweight, despite being clearly, and often dangerously, underweight. People with anorexia nervosa may weigh themselves repeatedly, portion food carefully, and eat very small quantities of only limited foods. Some people with anorexia nervosa may exhibit other behaviors, such as binge-eating followed by extreme dieting, purging through excessive exercise, self-induced vomiting, and/or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

  • Anorexia nervosa includes the following symptoms, though not all symptoms are necessary for a diagnosis:
  • A relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight
  • Intense fear of weight gain
  • Distorted body image
  • Aself-esteem that is heavily influenced by perceptions of body weight and shape
  • A denial of the seriousness of low body weight
  • Extreme thinness (emaciation)
  • Lack of menstruation among girls and women
  • Extremely restricted eating

Other symptoms may develop over time, including:

  • Thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
  • Brittle hair and nails
  • Dry and yellowish skin
  • Growth of fine hair all over the body (lanugo)
  • Mild anemia and muscle wasting and weakness
  • Severe constipation
  • Low blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse
  • Damage to the structure and function of the heart
  • Brain damage
  • Multi-organ failure
  • Drop in internal body temperature, causing a person to feel cold all the time
  • Lethargy, sluggishness, or feeling tired all the time
  • Infertility

Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

Though eating is in the name, eating disorders are about much more than food and diet.

BULIMIA NERVOSA

Patients with bulimia nervosa have recurrent and frequent episodes wherein they eat unusually large amounts of food. They typically 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, though some may 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. Bulimic behavior is usually practiced in secret because it’s often accompanied by feelings of disgust or shame. Binge-eating and purging cycles can occur anywhere from several times a week to many times a day.

 

Other symptoms may develop over time, including:

  • Thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
  • Brittle hair and nails
  • Dry and yellowish skin
  • Growth of fine hair all over the body (lanugo)
  • Mild anemia and muscle wasting and weakness
  • Severe constipation
  • Low blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse
  • Damage to the structure and function of the heart
  • Brain damage
  • Multi-organ failure
  • Drop in internal body temperature, causing a person to feel cold all the time
  • Lethargy, sluggishness, or feeling tired all the time
  • Infertility

BINGE EATING DISORDER

Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by episodes wherein one feels out of control, and often eats in a trance-like state. Unlike bulimia nervosa, periods of binge-eating are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting. As a result, people with binge-eating disorder often are over-weight or obese. People with binge-eating disorder who are obese are at higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. They also experience guilt, shame, and distress about their binge-eating, which can lead to more binge-eating.

    WHAT TYPE OF THERAPY WORKS BEST FOR EATING DISORDERS

    We use a variety of approaches to treat eating disorders.

    Some of our evidenced-based strategies include:

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy
    • Cognitive Behavior Therapy
    • Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

    Let us help. Better Life therapists specialize in the treatment of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.