Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

Table of Content

Introduction 3
Eating Disorders 4
Anorexia nervosa 4
 What is it? 4
 Why does it occur? 5
Treatment 5
Bulimia Nervosa 6
 What is it 6
 Why does it occur? 6
 Treatment 7
Bigorexia 7
 What is it? 7
 Why does it occur? 7
Treatment. 8
Pica: 8
 What is it? 8
 Why does it happen? 8
 Treatment: 8
Conclusion9

Introduction

Eating disorders are behavioral problems brought on by a complex interplay of factors, which may include emotional and personality disorders, family pressures, a possible genetic or biologic susceptibility, and a culture in which there is an overabundance of food and an obsession with thinness. There are four general categories of eating disorders:
* Bulimia nervosa
*Anorexia nervosa
* Bigorexia
* Pica
These are not new disorders. Although anorexia nervosa was first defined as a medical problem in the late 1800s, descriptions of self-starvation have been found even in medieval writings.
A person with an eating disorder should not be blamed for having it. The disorders are caused by a complex interaction of social, biological and psychological factorswhich bring about the harmful behaviors. The important thing is to stop as soon as you recognize these behaviors in yourself, or to get help to begin the road to recovery.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that affect individual's physical and mental health. The precise cause of eating disorders is not entirely understood,but there is evidence that it may be linked to other medical conditions and situations. Cultural idealizations of thinness and youthfulness have contributed to eating disorders affecting diverse populations. While proper treatment can be highly effective for many suffering from specific types of eating disorders, the consequences of eating disorders can be severe, including death (whether fromdirect medical effects of disturbed eating habits or from conditions such as suicidal thinking).

Anorexia nervosa
* What is it? Is an eating disorder characterized by immoderate food restriction and irrational fear of gaining weight, as well as a distorted body self-perception. It typically involves excessive weight loss. Anorexia nervosa usually develops during adolescence and early adulthood.Due to the fear of gaining weight, people with this disorder restrict the amount of food they consume. This restriction of food intake causes metabolic and hormonal disorders. Outside of medical literature, the terms anorexia nervosa and anorexia are often used interchangeably; however, anorexia is simply a medical term for lack of appetite and people with anorexia nervosa do not in fact, losetheir appetites,
* Why does it occur? Studies have hypothesized the continuance of disordered eating patterns may be epiphenomena of starvation. The results of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment showed normal controls exhibit many of the behavioral patterns of anorexia nervosa (AN) when subjected to starvation. This may be due to the numerous changes in the neuroendocrine system, which resultsin a self-perpetuating cycle. Studies have suggested the initial weight loss such as dieting may be the triggering factor in developing AN in some cases, possibly because of an already inherent predisposition toward AN. One study reported cases of AN resulting from unintended weight loss that resulted from varied causes, such as a parasitic infection, medication side effects, and surgery. Theweight loss itself was the triggering factor.
Treatment
* Zinc supplementation has been shown in various studies to be beneficial in the treatment of AN even in patients not suffering from zinc deficiency, by helping to increase weight gain.
* Medical Nutrition Therapy;(MNT) also referred to as Nutrition Therapy is the development and provision of a nutritional treatment or therapy based...