Weight and Eating Disorders
Teen eating disorders are so common in
America that 1 or 2 out of every 100 students will struggle with one.
Teen eating disorders often are long-term illnesses that
may require long-term treatment. In addition, teen eating disorders frequently occur
with other mental disorders such as teen depression, substance abuse, and anxiety
disorders (NIMH, 2002).
Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia nervosa
- Person refuses to maintain normal body weight.
- Weighs 85% or less than what is expected for age and
height.
- In women, menstrual periods stop. In men levels of
sex hormones fall.
- Young girls do not begin to menstruate at the appropriate
age.
- Person denies the dangers of low weight.
- Is terrified of gaining weight.
- Reports feeling fat even when very thin.
- In addition to the above, anorexia nervosa often includes
depression, irritability, withdrawal, and peculiar behaviors such as compulsive
rituals, strange eating habits, and division of foods into "good/safe" and "bad/dangerous"
categories.
Bulimia nervosa
- Person binge eats.
- Feels out of control while eating.
- Vomits, misuses laxatives, exercises, or fasts to
get rid of the calories.
- Diets when not bingeing.
- Believes self-worth requires being thin.
- May shoplift, be promiscuous, abuse alcohol or drugs
or abuse credit cards.
- Weight may be normal or near normal.
- Like anorexia, bulimia can kill.
The earlier these eating disorders are diagnosed and treated...
Continued..go to page
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Information obtained from SAMHSA Definitions come from
the ANRED site:
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