Anorexia Nervosa

Inadequate food intake leading to a weight that is clearly too low, Intense fear of weight gain, obsession with weight and persistent behavior to prevent weight gain, Self-esteem overly related to body image, Inability to appreciate the severity of the situation, Binge-eating/purging type involves binge eating and/or purging behaviors within the last three months, Restricting type does not involve binge eating or purging.

Binge Eating Disorder

Frequent episodes of consuming very large amounts of food but without behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting. A feeling of being out of control during the binge eating episodes. Feelings of strong shame or guilt regarding the binge eating. Indications that the binge eating is out of control, such as eating when not hungry, eating to the point of discomfort, or eating alone because of shame about the behavior.

Bulimia Nervosa 

Frequent episodes of consuming very large amount of food followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting. A feeling of being out of control during the binge-eating episodes. Self-esteem overly related to body image.

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID )

Appearing to be a “picky eater” or being “phobic” of certain foods. Not eating enough or skipping meals completely. No evidence of being preoccupied with body shape or weight but rather anxiety about food itself. Very sensitive to certain aspects of foods, focusing on texture, smell, temperature or food groups. Disinterested in food or forgetting to eat. Avoiding events where food will be served. Needing to take nutritional supplements. Anxiety and fear around food. Malnutrition.

Pica

Characterized by individuals who persistently eat non-nutritive substances such as chalk, paper or soap for at least a month. 

Rumination Disorder

An eating disoder in which an individual, usually a child or infant, brings their food back up, re-chews and re-swallows it, and it is not caused by a medical condition such as a gastrointestinal condition.  It differs from bulimia in that the individual does not appear to be bringing the food up intentionally, nor do they appear upset or disgusted by it. This condition can lead to malnutrition. 

Compulsive Overeating 

Binge eating, or eating uncontrollably even when not physically hungry. Eating much more rapidly than normal. Eating alone due to shame and embarrassment. Feelings of guilt due to overeating. Preoccupation with body weight. Awareness that eating patterns are abnormal. History of weight fluctuations. Withdrawal from activities because of embarrassment about weight. Eating little in public, but maintaining a high body weight. Hiding food in strange places (closets, cabinets, suitcases, under the bed). Holding the belief that food is their only friend. Unlike bulimia nervosa, persons with compulsive overeating disorder do not purge excess calories following a binge episode.​​

ANOREXIA NERVOSA:

In anorexia nervosa’s cycle of self-starvation, the body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally.  Thus, the body is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy, resulting in serious medical consequences:

Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower. Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones. Muscle loss and weakness. Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure. Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness. Dry hair and skin; hair loss is common. Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.

BULIMIA NERVOSA:

The recurrent binge-and-purge cycles of bulimia can affect the entire digestive system and can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions.  Some of the health consequences of bulimia nervosa include:

Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death. Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium, sodium and chloride from the body as a result of purging behaviors. Potential for gastric rupture during periods of bingeing. Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting. Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting. Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse. Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis.

EATING DISORDER:

Binge eating disorder often results in many of the same health risks associated with clinical obesity. Some of the potential health consequences of binge eating disorder include:  

High blood pressure. High cholesterol levels. Heart disease as a result of elevated triglyceride levels. Type II diabetes mellitus. Gallbladder disease.

Intuitive eating is a way of eating that is based on the idea that you can listen to your hunger and fullness cues to know when it's time to feed your body or time to stop eating. 

The 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating:

Reject the diet mentality

Diets historically don't work, at least not for very long. Rid yourself of the idea that you are worth less because you are not at your dream weight. Allow yourself to get off the yoyo diets and start eating more intuitively. 

Honor your hunger

You can train your body to know when it is hungry and when it is full. Honor that hunger by feeding your body food that gives you energy and nutrition. Starving yourself or being overly restrictive will often be the reason people binge or over eat.

Make peace with food

You don't have to be at war with food. If you forbid yourself from eating certain foods, your sense of deprivation will kick in and make you want to eat those foods. No foods need to be completely off the table (unless you have allergic reactions to them). You may just need to learn to eat more mindfully. 

Challenge the food police

Diets historically don't work, at least not for very long. Rid yourself of the idea that you are worth less because you are not at your dream weight. Allow yourself to get off the yoyo diets and start eating more intuitively. 

Honor your hunger

You can train your body to know when it is hungry and when it is full. Honor that hunger by feeding your body food that gives you energy and nutrition. Starving yourself or being overly restrictive will often be the reason people binge or over eat.

Make peace with food

You don't have to be at war with food. If you forbid yourself from eating certain foods, your sense of deprivation will kick in and make you want to eat those foods. No foods need to be completely off the table (unless you have allergic reactions to them). You may just need to learn to eat more mindfully. 

Challenge the food police

Discover the satisfaction factor

Allow yourself to enjoy food. If you truly let yourself eat and find pleasure in food, you are less likely to overeat.

Feel your fullness

You can learn the skill of feeling your fullness by slowing down and eating mindfully. You can trust that your body will tell you when it's time to stop eating.

Cope with your emotions with kindness

Life is hard. Sometimes we use food to numb the pain or help us feel more in control, but food is a poor substitute for what we actually need. Through counseling, you can learn to meet your real needs and cope with your emotions with kindness and not just with food.

Respect your body

Despite what the fashion magazines say, lots of different body types are beautiful, functional and endowed with inherent dignity. We each have a differnt genetic blueprint. Learn to love or at least accept your body.

Movement- feel the difference

You don't have to do a 5 a.m. bootcamp 7 days a week to feel good in your body. However, your body does need movement to feel energized and healthy. If you don't have a regular time daily that you have moment, start small and work up. Even a brisk walk can make a difference.

Honor your health with gentle nutrition

Choose foods  that honor your taste buds as well as those that are healthy. Eating ice cream one time is not going to change your weight. Focus on being healthy over the long haul. To learn more about Intuitive Eating, we recommend the book Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Triblole and Elyse Resch who pioneered this idea of Intuitive Eating, and who came up with these 10 principles. 

Have you ever wondered why eating disorders are so prevalent in teen girls? 

There are many factors that play into this prevalence, but one that a lot of people don't know about is biology.  Puberty makes teens girls vulnerable because of changes in their body mass composition. 

For females, the percentage of fat increases by 17% to 25% of their body weight during puberty. This increase results in a change in their set point (their preset weight that is hardwired into their DNA).  This same increase does not occur in males. Girls at age 19 eat 12% less than at age 10 but gain more fat stores. By comparison, boys at 19 eat 20% more than at age 10 but don't gain fat stores. Biology does not affect boys and girls in the same way when it comes to body mass composition and weight.

These changes in their bodies are all happening at a time when a sense of body image and identity are at the forefront. Adolescence is also a time when both boys and girls are desperately seeking approval from their peers, and a time they are evaluating their body's ability to attract a partner. They also can't escape living in a world that idealizes thin bodies. We all feel that pressure. These factors make adolescent girls particularly vulnerable to eating disorders. 

Unfortunately, that does not mean boys are not affected by eating disorders. About one in three people dealing with disordered eating are male. In the United States, eating disorders will affect ten million males at some point during their lives.

Therapy can help adolescents forming their sense of identity to both feel secure and to have a stronger sense of self-esteem. It can also help if they have already started to form a poor self-image or a difficult relationship with food. If they have a full-blown eating disorder, please contact us to get help right away. There can be serious health consequences associated with eating disorders.