Eating Disorder Information NNFED
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What is Anorexia Nervosa?
This eating disorder may develop from dieting and continue into a cycle of losing weight and not eating. Individuals with anorexia nervosa may exhibit a combination of restrictive and purging (laxatives, diuretics, self-induced vomiting) behaviours to maintain a low weight. Restrictive behaviours include under-eating, avoidance of high calorie food and engaging in strenuous exercise, These behaviours undermine an individual's physical health, self-esteem and feeling of competency. Fifteen percent of people who develop anorexia die either directly from or consequences of the eating disorder such as heart failure.
What is Bulimia Nervosa?
This eating disorder is most commonly associated with bingeing and may or may not be accompanied by purging behaviours (self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas.) A person with bulimia may also fast or exercise to lose weight, is often at a normal weight and may ultimately gain weight. A continuous cycle of bingeing and purging slows down the body's metabolism. During a binge, the body absorbs fat and calories thereby increasing the likelihood of gaining weight.
The binge-purge cycle often begins at transition points of independence (such as changing high school, leaving for college, moving away from home) when stress is high and there may be no other outlets for emotional conflict and tension. A high rate of bulimic behaviours has been reported among college women. Complications that lead to death are less common in bulimia but if treatment is not pursue, bulimia can become a lifelong progressive disorder in which more and more of a person's daily activities and thoughts are oriented around food.
Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa
Treatment for anorexia nervosa should be individualized and may include: hospital inpatient programs, outpatient day programs, medication, in particular antidepressants to alleviate symptoms of depression, individual or group psychotherapy. Therapists often use different approaches and some of the more common ways to treat anorexia nervosa include behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive-behaviour therapy, family therapy, psycho-dynamic or expressive art therapies.
Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa
Treatment for bulimia nervosa is similar to that of anorexia nervosa and should be specific to the needs of the individual. Treatment may occur in an inpatient program, an outpatient day program and in individual or group psychotherapy. Medication, such as, Prozac, has been shown to lessen the number of binge episodes and reduce depression associated with bulimia. Therapists often use different approaches and some of the more common ways to treat anorexia nervosa include behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive-behaviour therapy, family therapy, psycho-dynamic or expressive art therapies.
Behaviours Associated with Anorexia Nervosa
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Behaviours Associated with Bulimia Nervosa
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Physical consequences of Anorexia Nervosa
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Physical consequences of Bulimia Nervosa
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