Eating disorders
September 2nd, 2005
By Mayo Clinic staff
Eating disorders are characterized by a preoccupation with weight that results in severe disturbances in eating and other behaviors. These disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.
* Anorexia nervosa. Essentially self-starvation, this disorder involves a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight. In severe cases, anorexia can be life-threatening.
* Bulimia nervosa. This involves repeated episodes of binge eating, followed by ways of trying to purge the body of the food or of expected weight gain. People can have this condition and be of normal weight.
* Binge eating disorder. This is characterized by frequent episodes of overeating without purging.
Other variations of eating disorders occur, such as purging without bingeing, chewing and spitting without purging, and anorexic behavior with less severe weight loss.
Most Americans with eating disorders are females between the ages of 12 and 25. Males can develop eating disorders, but generally less frequently. The exception is binge eating disorder, which appears to affect almost as many males as females.
Treatments for eating disorders may involve nutrition education, psychotherapy, family counseling and medications.
Entry Filed under: eating disorders
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