Causes, Risk Factors, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment of an Individual with an Eating Disorder
Causes:
There is no known cause or specific influence of Bulimia or Anorexia, but some factors that can influence the development of the disorder include:
-Culture: The media places constant pressure on women in the U.S. to fit a certain ideal of beauty. Seeing flawless, thin women on the television, especially in Western culture, and in advertisements make it difficult for women and girls to feel good about their bodies.
-Social: Peer pressure through teasing about body image and comparision can result in development of an eating disorder.
-Families: It is more likely for someone to develop an eating disorder if they have a family member, such as a mother or sister, that suffer from an eating disorder. In addition, parents who value looks, are on diets themselves, reinforce the societal thinness ideal, or criticize their children’s bodies are more likely to have a child with an eating disorder.
-Life Changes or Stressful Events: Traumatic events, such as rape, or stressful situation, such as staring a new job, can lead to Bulimia. Major life transitions can lead to development of Anorexia.
-Personality Traits: Patients with Anorexia and Bulimia commonly have negative views of themselves and little self-confidence. A person with Bulimia may also be very moody, have problems expressing anger, or have a hard time controlling impulsive behaviors. A person with Anorexia may have traits of obsessive
compulsion or perfectionist tendencies (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).
-Biology: Genes, hormones, and chemicals in the brain may be factors in developing an eating disorder. Anorexia is thought to be due in part to a genetic predisposition, but a specific gene has yet to be identified
-Involvement in Extra Curricular Activities: Involvement in sports can be a cause of Anorexia due to the physical constraints of the activity (Linville, Stice, Gau, O'Neil, 2011).
Risk Factors
A higher risk for an onset of an eating disorder is seen through adolescent females who
-strongly feel pressured by society to be thin
-show preoccupation with body image
-report weight and body shape concerns and negative affectivity
-report intense feelings of stress
-report elevated dietary restraint
(Stice, Marti, Durant,2011).
Symptoms
Symptoms of Anorexia
-Physical signs of anorexia include: extreme weight loss, abnormal blood counts, insomnia, fatigue, hair that thins, breaks, or falls out, absence of menstruation, constipation, thin appearance, intolerance of cold, irregular heart rhythms, low blood pressure, dehydration, osteoporosis, swelling of arms and legs, muscle weakness, fatigue, and diarrhea.
-Emotional and behavioral signs include: refusal to eat, denial of hunger, afraid of gaining weight, lying about how much food was eaten, excessive exercise, lack of emotion, social withdrawal, irritability, preoccupation with food, depressed mood, and possible use of laxatives, diets aids, or herbal products.
Symptoms of Bulimia
-An intake of large quantities of food with a loss of control type of behavior
-Use of self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, fasting, and/or obsessive or compulsive exercise.
-Constant worry about body shape
Signs
The following are a few possible signs that someone who may have Anorexia may elicit: skipping meals making excuses for not eating, eating only a few certain "safe" foods (usually those low in fat and calories), adopting rigid meal or eating rituals (such as cutting food into tiny pieces or spitting food out after chewing), cooking elaborate meals for others but refusing to eat, repeated weighing of themselves, frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws, complaining about being fat, and not wanting to eat in public.
The following are signs someone who may have Bulimia may elicit: indication of binge eating behaviors(a large amount of food eaten in a
short amount of time), indication of purging behaviors(smell of vomiting, frequent trips to the bathroom correlating with meals), schedules that allow
time for binging and purging, swelling of area of cheeks or jaw, continuous workout sessions that are extensive and do not stop for any reason, atypical
social withdrawal.
Treatment
In treating an eating disorder, a person may need to restore a healthy weight, seek medical attention including monitoring vital signs and physical conditions, be hospitalized, take medications, and attend group meetings (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).
Causes:
There is no known cause or specific influence of Bulimia or Anorexia, but some factors that can influence the development of the disorder include:
-Culture: The media places constant pressure on women in the U.S. to fit a certain ideal of beauty. Seeing flawless, thin women on the television, especially in Western culture, and in advertisements make it difficult for women and girls to feel good about their bodies.
-Social: Peer pressure through teasing about body image and comparision can result in development of an eating disorder.
-Families: It is more likely for someone to develop an eating disorder if they have a family member, such as a mother or sister, that suffer from an eating disorder. In addition, parents who value looks, are on diets themselves, reinforce the societal thinness ideal, or criticize their children’s bodies are more likely to have a child with an eating disorder.
-Life Changes or Stressful Events: Traumatic events, such as rape, or stressful situation, such as staring a new job, can lead to Bulimia. Major life transitions can lead to development of Anorexia.
-Personality Traits: Patients with Anorexia and Bulimia commonly have negative views of themselves and little self-confidence. A person with Bulimia may also be very moody, have problems expressing anger, or have a hard time controlling impulsive behaviors. A person with Anorexia may have traits of obsessive
compulsion or perfectionist tendencies (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).
-Biology: Genes, hormones, and chemicals in the brain may be factors in developing an eating disorder. Anorexia is thought to be due in part to a genetic predisposition, but a specific gene has yet to be identified
-Involvement in Extra Curricular Activities: Involvement in sports can be a cause of Anorexia due to the physical constraints of the activity (Linville, Stice, Gau, O'Neil, 2011).
Risk Factors
A higher risk for an onset of an eating disorder is seen through adolescent females who
-strongly feel pressured by society to be thin
-show preoccupation with body image
-report weight and body shape concerns and negative affectivity
-report intense feelings of stress
-report elevated dietary restraint
(Stice, Marti, Durant,2011).
Symptoms
Symptoms of Anorexia
-Physical signs of anorexia include: extreme weight loss, abnormal blood counts, insomnia, fatigue, hair that thins, breaks, or falls out, absence of menstruation, constipation, thin appearance, intolerance of cold, irregular heart rhythms, low blood pressure, dehydration, osteoporosis, swelling of arms and legs, muscle weakness, fatigue, and diarrhea.
-Emotional and behavioral signs include: refusal to eat, denial of hunger, afraid of gaining weight, lying about how much food was eaten, excessive exercise, lack of emotion, social withdrawal, irritability, preoccupation with food, depressed mood, and possible use of laxatives, diets aids, or herbal products.
Symptoms of Bulimia
-An intake of large quantities of food with a loss of control type of behavior
-Use of self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, fasting, and/or obsessive or compulsive exercise.
-Constant worry about body shape
Signs
The following are a few possible signs that someone who may have Anorexia may elicit: skipping meals making excuses for not eating, eating only a few certain "safe" foods (usually those low in fat and calories), adopting rigid meal or eating rituals (such as cutting food into tiny pieces or spitting food out after chewing), cooking elaborate meals for others but refusing to eat, repeated weighing of themselves, frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws, complaining about being fat, and not wanting to eat in public.
The following are signs someone who may have Bulimia may elicit: indication of binge eating behaviors(a large amount of food eaten in a
short amount of time), indication of purging behaviors(smell of vomiting, frequent trips to the bathroom correlating with meals), schedules that allow
time for binging and purging, swelling of area of cheeks or jaw, continuous workout sessions that are extensive and do not stop for any reason, atypical
social withdrawal.
Treatment
In treating an eating disorder, a person may need to restore a healthy weight, seek medical attention including monitoring vital signs and physical conditions, be hospitalized, take medications, and attend group meetings (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).