Discuss Influences Eating Disorders

Discussion: Influences Eating Disorders

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Discussion: Societal Influences on Eating Disorders

In your readings this week, the authors point to the fact that eating disorders may likely be underreported. This is partially due to society’s expectations around body image. The media consistently portrays the very thin body type as glamorous and desirable. This message is ubiquitous in society.

For this Discussion, find a picture that exists in the media (i.e., magazines, store fronts, billboards) that you believe projects a statement about body image. Take a photograph of the picture and scan it as one of the following file types: *.bmp, *.gif, *.jpg, *.jpeg, or *.png.

• Post the picture to the Discussion board. Then analyze whether the creators of this picture intending to target a particular group or gender?

• What statement is the image projecting?

• How might the picture reflect society’s expectation about and influence on body image?

• How might you change the picture to reflect a different image?

Note: Photos must be acceptable for a professional/classroom environment. Please respect the sensitivities of your colleagues by only posting appropriate pictures.

Some people may see eating disorders as phases, fads or lifestyle choices, but they’re actually serious mental disorders.

They affect people physically, psychologically and socially and can have life-threatening consequences.

In fact, eating disorders are now officially recognized as mental disorders by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

In the US alone, an estimated 20 million women and 10 million men have or have had an eating disorder at some point in their lives (1).

The following article describes 6 of the most common types of eating disorders and their symptoms.

What Are Eating Disorders?
Sad Teenager
Eating disorders are a range of conditions expressed through abnormal or disturbed eating habits.

These generally stem from an obsession with food, body weight or body shape and often result in serious health consequences. In some cases, eating disorders even result in death.

Individuals with eating disorders can have a variety of symptoms. However, most include the severe restriction of food, food binges or inappropriate purging behaviors like vomiting or over-exercising.

Although eating disorders can affect people of any gender at any life stage, they’re most often reported in adolescents and young women. In fact, as much as 13% of youth may experience at least one eating disorder by the age of 20 (2Trusted Source).

SUMMARY:Eating disorders are mental disorders marked by an obsession with food or body shape. They can affect anyone but are most prevalent in young women.

What Causes Them?
Experts believe that eating disorders may be caused by a variety of factors.

One of these is genetics. Twin and adoption studies, which look at twins who were separated at birth and adopted by different families, provide some evidence that eating disorders may be hereditary.

This type of research has generally shown that if one twin develops an eating disorder, the second has a 50% likelihood of developing one too, on average (3Trusted Source).

Personality traits are another cause. In particular, neuroticism, perfectionism and impulsivity are three personality traits often linked to a higher risk of developing an eating disorder (3Trusted Source).

Other potential causes are perceived pressures to be thin, cultural preferences for thinness and exposure to media promoting such ideals (3Trusted Source).

In fact, certain eating disorders appear to be mostly nonexistent in cultures that haven’t been exposed to Western ideals of thinness (4Trusted Source).

That said, culturally accepted thin ideals are very present in many areas of the world. Yet, in some countries, few individuals end up developing an eating disorder. Thus, it’s likely that a mix of factors is to blame.

More recently, experts have proposed that differences in brain structure and biology may also play a role in the development of eating disorders.

In particular, levels of the brain messengers serotonin and dopamine may be factors (5, 6).

However, more studies are needed before strong conclusions can be made.

SUMMARY:Eating disorders may be caused by several factors. These include genetics, brain biology, personality traits and cultural ideals.

1. Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is likely the most well-known eating disorder.

It generally develops during adolescence or young adulthood and tends to affect more women than men (7Trusted Source).

People with anorexia generally view themselves as overweight, even if they’re dangerously underweight. They tend to constantly monitor their weight, avoid eating certain types of foods and severely restrict their calories.

Common symptoms of anorexia nervosa include (8):

Being considerably underweight compared to people of similar age and height.
Very restricted eating patterns.
An intense fear of gaining weight or persistent behaviors to avoid gaining weight, despite being underweight.
A relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a healthy weight.
A heavy influence of body weight or perceived body shape on self-esteem.
A distorted body image, including denial of being seriously underweight.
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are also often present. For instance, many people with anorexia are preoccupied with constant thoughts about food, and some may even obsessively collect recipes or hoard foods.

Such individuals may also have difficulty eating in public and have a strong desire to control their environment, limiting their ability to be spontaneous.

Anorexia is officially categorized into two subtypes — the restricting type and the binge-eating and purging type (8).

Individuals with the restricting type lose weight solely through dieting, fasting or excessive exercise.

Individuals with the binge-eating and purging type may binge on large amounts of food or eat very little. In both cases, after they eat, they purge using activities including vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics or exercising excessively.

Anorexia can be very damaging to the body. Over time, individuals living with it may experience the thinning of their bones, infertility, brittle hair and nails and the growth of a layer of fine hair all over their body (9).

In severe cases, anorexia can result in heart, brain or multi-organ failure and death.

SUMMARY:People with anorexia nervosa may limit their food intake or compensate for it through various purging behaviors. They have an intense fear of gaining weight, even when severely underweight.

2. Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is another well-known eating disorder.

Just like anorexia, bulimia tends to develop during adolescence and early adulthood and appears to be less common among men than women (7Trusted Source).

People with bulimia frequently eat unusually large amounts of food in a relatively short period.

Each binge-eating episode usually continues until the person becomes painfully full. Moreover, during a binge, the person usually feels that they cannot stop eating or control how much they are eating.

Binges can happen with any type of food, but most commonly occur with foods the individual would normally avoid.

Individuals with bulimia then attempt to purge to compensate for the calories consumed and relieve gut discomfort.

Common purging behaviors include forced vomiting, fasting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas and excessive exercise.

Symptoms may appear very similar to the binge-eating or purging subtypes of anorexia nervosa. However, individuals with bulimia usually maintain a relatively normal weight, rather than becoming underweight.

Common symptoms of bulimia nervosa include (8):

Recurrent episodes of binge eating, with a feeling of lack of control
Recurrent episodes of inappropriate purging behaviors to prevent weight gain
A self-esteem overly influenced by body shape and weight
A fear of gaining weight, despite having a normal weight
Side effects of bulimia may include an inflamed and sore throat, swollen salivary glands, worn tooth enamel, tooth decay, acid reflux, irritation of the gut, severe dehydration and hormonal disturbances (9).

In severe cases, bulimia can also create an imbalance in body levels of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and calcium. This can cause a stroke or heart attack.

SUMMARY:People with bulimia nervosa uncontrollably consume large amounts of food in short periods of time, then purge. They fear gaining weight despite being at a normal weight.

3. Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating was only officially recognized as an eating disorder relatively recently.

However, it is currently believed to be one of the most common eating disorders, especially in the US (10Trusted Source).

Binge eating disorder typically begins during adolescence and early adulthood, although it can also develop later on.

Individuals with this disorder have similar symptoms to those with bulimia or the binge-eating subtype of anorexia.

For instance, they typically eat unusually large amounts of food in relatively short periods of time and usually feel a lack of control during binges.

However, contrary to the two previous disorders, people with binge eating disorder do not restrict calories or use purging behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise to compensate for their binges.

Common symptoms of binge eating disorder include (8):

Eating large amounts of foods rapidly, in secret and until uncomfortably full, despite not feeling hungry.
Feeling a lack of control during episodes of binge eating.
Feelings of distress, such as shame, disgust or guilt, when thinking about the binge-eating behavior.
No use of purging behaviors, such as calorie restriction, vomiting, excessive exercise or laxative or diuretic use, to compensate for the binging.
People with binge eating disorder are often overweight or obese. This may increase their risk of medical complications linked to excess weight, such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes (11Trusted Source).

SUMMARY:People with binge eating disorder regularly and uncontrollably consume large amounts of food in short periods of time. Unlike people with other eating disorders, they do not purge.

4. Pica
Pica is another eating disorder that involves eating things that are not considered food.

Individuals with pica crave non-food substances such as ice, dirt, soil, chalk, soap, paper, hair, cloth, wool, pebbles, laundry detergent or cornstarch (8).

Pica can occur in adults, as well as children and adolescents. That said, this disorder is most frequently observed in children, pregnant women and individuals with mental disabilities (12Trusted Source).

Individuals with pica may be at an increased risk of poisoning, infections, gut injuries and nutrition deficiencies. Depending on the substances ingested, pica may be fatal.

However, to be considered pica, the eating of non-food substances must not be a normal part of someone’s culture or religion. In addition, it must not be considered a socially acceptable practice by a person’s peers.

SUMMARY:Individuals with pica tend to crave and eat non-food substances. This disorder may particularly affect children, pregnant women and individuals with mental disabilities.

5. Rumination Disorder
Rumination disorder is another newly recognized eating disorder.

It describes a condition in which a person regurgitates food they have previously chewed and swallowed, re-chews it and then either re-swallows it or spits it out (13Trusted Source).

This rumination typically occurs within the first 30 minutes after a meal. Unlike medical conditions such as reflux, it is voluntary (14).

This disorder can develop during infancy, childhood or adulthood. In infants, it tends to develop between three and 12 months and often disappears on its own. Children and adults with the condition usually require therapy to resolve it.

If not resolved in infants, rumination disorder can result in weight loss and severe malnutrition that can be fatal.

Adults with this disorder may restrict the amount of food they eat, especially in public. This may lead them to lose weight and become underweight (8, 14).

SUMMARY:Rumination disorder can affect people at all stages of life. People with the condition generally regurgitate the food they’ve recently swallowed. Then they chew it again and either swallow it or spit it out.

6. Avoidant or Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a new name for an old disorder.

It actually replaces what was known as a “feeding disorder of infancy and early childhood,” a diagnosis previously reserved for children under seven years old.

Although ARFID generally develops during infancy or early childhood, it can persist into adulthood. What’s more, it is equally common in men and women.

Individuals with this disorder experience disturbed eating either due to a lack of interest in eating or a distaste for certain smells, tastes, colors, textures or temperatures.

Common symptoms of ARFID include (8):

Avoidance or restriction of food intake that prevents the person from eating sufficient calories or nutrients.
Eating habits that interfere with normal social functions, such as eating with others.
Weight loss or poor development for age and height.
Nutrient deficiencies or dependence on supplements or tube feeding.
It’s important to note that ARFID goes beyond normal behaviors, such as picky eating in toddlers or a lower food intake in older adults.

Moreover, it does not include the avoidance or restriction of foods due to lack of availability or religious or cultural practices.

SUMMARY:ARFID is an eating disorder that causes people to undereat. This is either due to a lack of interest in food or an intense distaste for how certain foods look, smell or taste.

Other Eating Disorders
In addition to the six eating disorders above, less-known or less common eating disorders also exist. These generally fall under one of three categories (8):

Purging disorder: Individuals with this disorder often use purging behaviors, such as vomiting, laxatives, diuretics or excessive exercising, to control their weight or shape. However, they do not binge.
Night eating syndrome: Individuals with this syndrome frequently eat excessively, often after awakening from sleep.
Eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS): This includes any other possible conditions that have symptoms similar to those of an eating disorder but don’t fit into any of the categories above.
One disorder that may currently fall under EDNOS is orthorexia. Although increasingly mentioned in the media and scientific studies, orthorexia has yet to be officially recognized as a separate eating disorder by the current DSM.

Individuals with orthorexia tend to have an obsessive focus on healthy eating, to an extent that disrupts their daily lives.

For instance, the affected person may eliminate entire food groups, fearing they’re unhealthy. This can lead to malnutrition, severe weight loss, difficulty eating outside the home and emotional distress.

Individuals with orthorexia rarely focus on losing weight. Instead, their self-worth, identity or satisfaction is dependent on how well they comply with their self-imposed diet rules (15).

SUMMARY:Purging disorder and night eating syndrome are two additional eating disorders that are currently not well described. The EDNOS category includes all eating disorders, such as orthorexia, that don’t fit into another category.

The Bottom Line
The categories above are meant to provide a better understanding of the most common eating disorders and dispel the myths that many people have about them.

Eating disorders are mental disorders with seriously damaging physical and emotional consequences.

They are not fads, phases or something that someone consciously chooses to take part in.

If you have an eating disorder or know someone that might have one, seek help from a healthcare practitioner that specializes in eating disorders.

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Written by Alina Petre, MS, RD (CA) on September 28, 2017