EATING DISORDERS

DEFINITIONS

• Body image• The way you see your body

• BMI• A ratio that allows you to assess your body size in

relation to your height and weight

• Body composition• Ratio of body fat to lean body tissue

WEIGHT-RELATED HEALTH RISKS

Overweight› A condition in which a person is heavier than the

standard range for his/her height

Obesity› Refers specifically to having an excess amount of body

fat

Both can endanger health

Being overweight may not pose health risks› Football players : excess muscle tissue rather than

excess body fat

OVERWEIGHT

15% of teens

Excess body fat strains muscles and skeletal system

Heart and lungs work harder

Increases risk of HBP and cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, asthma and some cancers

UNDERWEIGHT

A condition in which a person is less than the standard weight range for his/her height

Some due to genetics or fast metabolism

Other diet or exercise excessively

Little stored body fat to provide body with energy reserve and may not be consuming enough nutrients or calories for health and growth

Can lead to fatigue or inability to fight disease

FAD DIETS

• Weight loss plans that are popular for only a short time

• Hard to stick to – limit food variety

• Any weight lost is usually regained

LIQUID DIETS

Replaces all food with liquid formula

Very low-cal

Feeling of fatigue

FDA requires these products to carry a warning label and recommend being used under close supervision

FASTING

Abstain from eating

Fasting for more than short periods deprives body of nutrients and energy

Body will begin breaking down protein stored in muscle for energy

Avoiding liquids as well may cause dehydration

Religious fasting is usually okay› Diabetes or other health conditions not advised

DIET PILLS

• Suppress appetite

• Can cause drowsiness, anxiety, heart racing and other serious side effects

• Can lead to dehydration

WEIGHT CYCLING

• Repeated pattern of loss and regain of body weight

• Common in followers of fad diets

• Slow and steady weight loss is the best strategy for long lasting results

EATING DISORDERS

Extreme, harmful eating behavior that can cause serious illness or even death

May be brought on by mental or emotional factors: poor body image, social/family pressures, perfectionism

May be partly genetic

~90% of those with ED are female

Need professional help

ANOREXIA NERVOSA Irrational fear of becoming obese results in

severe weight loss from self-imposed starvation

Psychological disorder with emotional and physical consequences

Most often in teenage girls and young women

Symptoms:› Extremely low caloric intake, obsession with exercising,

emotional problems, unnatural interest in food, distorted body image and denial of eating problem

ANOREXIA NERVOSA CONTINUED

Health consequences› Drastic reduction of body fat may cause females to stop

menstruating

› Loss of bone density

› Low body temp

› Low blood pressure

› Slowed metabolism

› Reduction in organ size

› May develop serious heart problems leading to cardiac arrest or death

TREATMENT FOR AN

• Stay at a clinic or hospital• To receive nutrients to regain weight and strength

• Psychological treatment• Addresses problems leading to the disorder

BULIMIA NERVOSA

Disorder in which some form of purging or clearing of the digestive tract follows cycles of eating

Fasts or follows a strict diet and then binges

Person may vomit or take laxatives to clear the food from the body

After binge, person may try dieting again

Symptoms:› Distorted body image› Unnatural interest in food

BULIMIA NERVOSA CONTINUED

Health Consequences› Dehydration, kidney damage or irregular heartbeat› Destroys tooth enamel› Tooth decay› Damages tissues of stomach, esophagus and mouth› Frequent use of laxatives disrupts digestion and

absorption; can cause nutrient deficiencies› Laxatives can change composition of blood

TREATMENT FOR BN

• Medication

• Psychological counseling

BINGE EATING DISORDER

• Disorder characterized by compulsive overeating

• Huge amounts of food at 1 time and do not purge

• May signal use of food as a coping mechanism

BINGE EATING DISORDER

• Health consequences• Unhealthful weight gain• Type 2 diabetes• Heart disease• Stroke

• Gallbladder problems• High blood pressure• High cholesterol• Increased risk of certain cancers

BINGE EATING DISORDER

• Treatment:• Psychological counseling• Sometimes medication

HOW TO HELP

• Need professional medical and psychological help

• Discuss problem with a trusted adult

• Encourage friend to seek help and be supportive

MEDIA AND BODY IMAGE• Does the ad include people with a variety of

shapes and sizes?

• How do the people look in the advertisement? (thin, overweight, normal)

• Do you think people using this product have the body type shown?

• Do you think the models naturally look this way or do you think the picture has been enhanced?

• How do the people appear in the ad? (happy, unhappy, neither)

• How would you describe the product being advertised?