Eating Disorders

The Eating Disorders are all characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior.  Just as an addict uses the addictive behavior to try to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting to deal with their problems. An eating disorder may be an expression of something that the person has found no other way of expressing. Eating disorders are usually divided into three categories: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive Overeating.

Is a complex eating disorder involving psychological, neurobiological, and sociological components.  Anorexia is more than just a problem with food. It's a way of using food or starving oneself to feel more in control of life and to ease tension, depression, anger, and anxiety.  Anorexia nervosa is characterized by low body weight and body image distortion. For people with anorexia nervosa, eating and not eating becomes an obsession. Typically, unusual or particular eating habits and other weight control habits develop.

Is characterized by episodes of binge-eating, and feelings of guilt, humiliation, and self-deprecation, followed by inappropriate methods of weight control (purging). Purging typically takes the form of vomiting, inappropriate use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics or other medication; excessive physical exercise, or fasting.  People with bulimia nervosa typically feel a lack of control during their eating binges. Their food is usually eaten secretly and gobbled down rapidly with little chewing.

Is a condition that millions of Americans may have. Binge-eating typically involves recurrent episodes of out-of-control eating, with the same binge-eating symptoms as those with bulimia. The main difference when compared to bulimia is that binge-eaters do not purge their bodies of excess calories. Therefore, many with the disorder tend to be overweight.

Issues are problem areas for a great many men and women.  The main types of eating problems are obesity and excess weight, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating. Most often, eating problems develop during the childhood and teenage years, but many people do not experience these problems until adulthood. Eating disorders frequently show up along with other mental health issues, such as depression, alcohol or drug abuse, and anxiety disorders. People who suffer from eating disorders also risk serious, and sometimes fatal, health complications.

Is the practice of consuming large quantities of food -- usually "comfort" or junk foods -- in response to feelings instead of hunger. Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is caused by emotions. Many of us learn that food can bring comfort, at least in the short-term. As a result, we often turn to food to heal emotional problems. Eating becomes a habit preventing us from learning skills that can effectively resolve our emotional distress. Depression, boredom, loneliness, chronic anger, anxiety, frustration, stress, problems with interpersonal relationships and poor self-esteem can result in overeating and unwanted weight gain.

And problems with food, eating, and weight control are endemic in the U.S.  Today, it is estimated that more than 65 % of adults in the United States are overweight or obese. An eating problem reflects itself as a preoccupation with, and/or a problem with self-esteem, body weight, shape and diet. Typically, if you have an eating disorder, you'll have unhealthy eating behavior. This may include overeating or an extreme and unhealthy reduction of the amount of food you eat. Either way, the person feels bad about their eating, body shape, weight, or all three.

It is estimated that during any one year more than half of all Americans go on a diet to lose weight. For many people, it is difficult to lose more than a few pounds, and few succeed in remaining at the reduced weight. The difficulty in losing weight and keeping it off leads many people to turn to a professional therapist, nutritionist, or commercial weight loss program for help.