EATING DISORDERS
Unfortunately a single cause of eating disorders has not been found to date. There are a variety of influencers
with eating disorders including personality, genetic, socio-cultural, familial, and experiential factors. Each
individual is different and there are no two stories the same. It is important to educate yourself about eating
disorders and find the type of treatment that works best for each person.
A study from 2001 to 2003 with 2,980 in-person interviews about eating disorders published in the Journal of Biological Psychiatry showed that almost 6 in 100 women had reported having an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, and binge
eating) sometime in their lives. Almost 3 in 100 men reported their experience with the same eating disorders.
(The Toronto Star, 02/05/2007 B7)
Click on the links below for more information:
For Yourself For Parents/Friends For Educators/Professionals For Students
ANOREXIA NERVOSA
1-Weight is 15% below ideal body weight. Refusal to maintain a normal weight/above
normal weight for height and age.
Not everyone who is of a low weight is anorexic; it is important to recognize that it is the REFUSAL
to maintain a normal weight that is the key factor.
2-Intense fear of gaining weight, even if underweight.
This is characterized by an inabilitity to maintain a weight nornal for their age and height. An obsessive desire to be thinner, being very afraid to become what they would consider 'fat'. Having weight and shape hold too much influence in how one feels about their own bodies.
3-Body image distortion
When a person with anorexia looks into a mirror he/she does not often see an accurate reflection.
A person with anorexia sees him/herself as much larger then they aret, even if he/she is dangerously thin. It is difficult for him/her to understand that a very low weight is dangerous and dieting habits can actually be fatal. The death rate
for anorexia is higher than for any other psychiatric illness.
4-Amenorrhea or absence of menstruation
Missing 3 periods is usually the criteria for this definition. This criterion cannot apply to situations
where the person is a male, a young female who has not started her periods or a female who is on birth control pills.
(SOME INFORMATION ADAPTED FROM WWW.NEDIC.CA)
ANOREXIA ATHLETICA
Anorexia atheltica is becoming more and more common and is one of the easier eating disorders to hide. This form of eating disorder is characterized by a drive to exercise that goes beyond the limits of a healthy range of activity. Individuals suffering from this type of disorder use exercise as a way to purge calories and control their weight to extreme levels. It is important to understand that compulsive exercise has serious health consequences.
These individuals will have many of the same characteristics as Anorexia Nervosa but may also exhibit:
-exercising while being at an unheathy weight
-being obsessive about exercising, needing to go at certain times and for extensive time periods, feeling like something will go wrong if this is not done.
-exercising when it is no longer for fun
-beleiving that self-worth is dependant on physical performance.
-only consuming food with the understanding that exercise will follow.
(SOME INFORMATION ADAPTED FROM WWW.NEDIC.CA)
BULIMIA NERVOSA
1-Binge eating
A binge is characterized by:
- A larger amount of food than most people would eat during the same time period (may consist of thousands calories)
- Consumed within a short period of time (typically 2 hours or less)
- A feeling that one CANNOT STOP or CONTROL one's eating
- Accompanied by physical or emotional distress
2-Purging
Following a binge, an individual may feel consumed with fear, guilt or shame and the need to try to undo
his/her behavior. Purging is a way to compensate for binging. Purge behaviors come in many forms:
vomiting, taking laxatives, water pills, starving or excessive exercise. It is important to recognize that
purging rarely works well for weight loss. Laxatives and diuretics make you lose water not weight.
3-Binging and purging occurs more than two times per week for atleast three months.
4-Body Image: Self evaluation and self esteem is overly influenced by weight and shape
Many people in our culture are concerned with how they look, what they weigh or how to change
the body parts they don't like. In bulimia, there is an intense connection between self respect and
the way the body looks. We can be great in a lot of things, but if our thighs are too big, well then,
we are just not good enough.
5-Weight can be normal, underweight, or overweight.
Unlike anorexics who can be often identified by their low weight, it is more difficult to identify bulimics.
Weight can also dramatically shift and large swings might be an indicator that someone is developing
an eating disorder.
BINGE EATING DISORDER (BED)
This was often referred to as compulsive overeating, typically characterized by:
1-A larger amount of food is eaten than would normally be eaten under the circumstances
(usually at least over 2500 calories) within atleast a 2 hour period of time
2-Often accompanied by feelings of physical discomfort,emotional distress, and guilt
3-This occurs at least 2 times per week for 6 months. There is no purging associated with BED
4-Cravings feel out of control, and are not satisfied by normal eating patterns
In the same study discussed above, from 2001 to 2003 with 2,980 in-person interviews about eating disorders published in the Journal of Biological Psychiatry showed that 0.9 percent of women reported having anorexia at some point in their lives, and 1.5 percent reported to have had bulimia. 0.3 percent of men reported incidences of anorexia, while 0.5 percent reported bulimia. Researches did find that binge eating was much more common than these reports and stated statisics may be closer to 3.5 percent of women and 2.0 percent of men who have been binge eaters.Research showed that binge eating was more common than the other two diorders combined, and that binge eating was reported for an average of 8 years, compared to 1.7 years with anorexia. This data challenges the belief that binge eating is not as common as other eating disorders.
(The Toronto Star, 02/05/2007 B7)
EATING DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED (NOS)
Just because one does not meet these exact definitions does not mean that the person does not have an
eating disorder or disordered eating patterns. As a matter of fact, most people will not meet the full criteria.
Individuals may begin as anorexic but then not hold the low weight (15% below) and may go onto
develop bulimia. 50% of patients with anorexia develop bulimic symptoms. Some patients with bulimia
develop anorexic symptoms.Some patients with Binge Eating disorder may not be overweight.
EDNOS is beginning to be more common and it is important to understand that these individuals should also receive treatment. People with EDNOS engage in a combination of symptoms that can make it more confusing for the individual who is encountering feelings associated with being eating disordered to understand that they need help.
FYI Section:
Wii Fit Press Release:
With the new release of the second Wii Fit video game, we wanted to remind you of our concerns regarding the messages that this game sends to individuals who may be at risk of developing and eating Disorder.
For Immediate Release
May 13, 2008
NEW VIDEO GAME DOES NOT SUPPORT HEALTHY BODY IMAGE
BURLINGTON – Ontario eating disorder support agencies, Danielle’s Place (Burlington), Sheena’s Place (Toronto), and Hope’s Garden (London), and Hopewell (Ottawa), feel strongly that the Nintendo WiiFit does not support healthy body image.
On May 19th, 2008, Nintendo will be releasing the Wii Fit, the new video game that features over 40 exercises and games with varying levels of difficulty. Wii Fit comes with a balance board shaped like a bathroom scale, which measures the users’ center of balance and body mass index (BMI), as well as shifts in weight, posture, and body movement. This will allow users to set weight-loss goals and track daily progress.
As childhood obesity rates increase (the report “Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids” has found that Canadian childhood obesity rates rank fifth-highest of 34 developed countries), parents, educators and government officials may welcome the Wii Fit as an innovative way to get kids moving.
However, there is a downside to the Wii Fit. Danielle’s Place believes the position that society’s increasing concern over obesity is fuelling unhealthy behaviours towards food, exercise and weight. Scales, BMI, and diets are key factors in the development of eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. A video game that measures BMI sends a message to our children that weight loss is the ultimate goal of exercise. Further the BMI measurement is intended for persons over the ages of 18, so should not be included in games intended for youth.
Healthy lifestyles involve physical activities that are fun, participatory and build confidence and a healthy body image. Danielle’s Place encourages individuals to involve themselves in sports and activities that make them feel good. A video game that pairs weight loss with physical activity can result in dissatisfaction with weight and body.
Danielle’s Place, a not-for-profit registered charitable organization, provides eating disorder support and resources for individuals and families dealing with an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia or binge eating). Danielle’s Place offers free support groups and services to help people deal with the realities of these serious and potentially fatal illnesses. Nearly one in five young women suffering from serious eating disorders does not survive.
For more information contact:
Danielle’s Place
895 Brant St. Suite #3
Burilngton, ON L7R 2J6
905-333-5548
info@daniellesplace.org
www.daniellesplace.org
