What are Eating Disorders?
There are two subtypes of eating disorders:
- The restricting type, which describes individuals whose weight loss occurs primarily through dieting, fasting and excessive exercise.
- Binge eating, and then purging.
According to the DSM IV, anorexia nervosa is a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by repeated episodes of binge eating, following by inappropriate compensatory behavior such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications, as well as fasting or excessive exercising.
More specific diagnostic guidelines:
- Body weight is maintained at least 15% below normal.
- The weight loss is self-induced.
- Purging and exercise.
- There is a gross body image distortion which borders on psychosis. There are delusional components to this. When an affected individual looks in the mirror, they clearly view themselves as overweight.
- Clear endocrine disorder involving the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, where women have amenorrhea.
- Intense fear of gaining weight.
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders has a hotline. Please call 847-831-3438 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. central time for further information.