Eating Disorder

Eating disorders usually start innocently, but later becomes a medical condition. It will eventually degenerate into severe preoccupation and obsession with weight. There are two forms of eating disorders:

1. Anorexia Nervosa
2. Bulimia Nervosa

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

The anorexic person is usually thin but refuses to maintain a minimal normal body weight. Always thinking of themselves as fat, anorexics may engage in self-starvation, refusal to eat, self induced vomiting, and sometimes abuse of a laxative agent. Other systemic illness may be seen in severe anorexics, These include:

• Hormonal changes resulting in absence of menstruation, excessive bleeding, infertility, growth retardation.
• Heart- irregular heart rate can become the cause of death in anorexics. Seizures
• Gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, and constipation.
• Major depression

Studies have shown that a majority of anorexics may be sufferers of depression in one form or another.

BULIMIA

Bulimics are usually of normal weight or may be overweight. They indulge in binge eating that usually is followed by excessive self-induced vomiting; the idea being not to gain any weight or lose weight but yet be able to eat as much as they want. Bulimics can consume large quantities of food before self induced vomiting, They also may use excessive laxatives. Bulimics also suffer from:

• Behavioral and emotional problems
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Mineral imbalance from excessive vomiting

Anorexia and Bulimia cases are increasing in the United States and the rest of the world. Females are more susceptible than males. The incidence still runs about 1.5 to 9.5 %.