Anorexia Nervosa
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Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed when patients weigh at least 15 percent less than the normal healthy weight expected for their height. People with anorexia nervosa don't maintain a normal weight because they refuse to eat enough, often exercise obsessively, and sometimes force themselves to vomit or use laxatives to lose weight. Over time, the following symptoms may develop as the body goes into starvation:
• Menstrual periods cease
• Osteopenia or osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) through loss of calcium
• Hair/nails become brittle
• Skin dries and can take on a yellowish cast
• Mild anemia and muscles, including the heart muscle, waste away
• Severe constipation
• Drop in blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse rates
• Internal body temperature falls, causing person to feel cold all the time
• Depression, and lethargy
*National Eating Disorder Association
Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed when patients weigh at least 15 percent less than the normal healthy weight expected for their height. People with anorexia nervosa don't maintain a normal weight because they refuse to eat enough, often exercise obsessively, and sometimes force themselves to vomit or use laxatives to lose weight. Over time, the following symptoms may develop as the body goes into starvation:
• Menstrual periods cease
• Osteopenia or osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) through loss of calcium
• Hair/nails become brittle
• Skin dries and can take on a yellowish cast
• Mild anemia and muscles, including the heart muscle, waste away
• Severe constipation
• Drop in blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse rates
• Internal body temperature falls, causing person to feel cold all the time
• Depression, and lethargy
*National Eating Disorder Association
Bulimia Nervosa
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Although they may frequently diet and vigorously exercise, individuals with bulimia nervosa can be slightly underweight, normal weight, overweight or even obese. But, they are never as underweight as anorexia nervosa sufferers. Patients with bulimia nervosa binge eat frequently, and during these times sufferers may eat an astounding amount of food in a short time, often consuming thousands of calories that are high in sugars, carbohydrates, and fat. They can eat very rapidly, sometimes gulping down food without even tasting it.
Their binges often end only when they are interrupted by another person, or they fall asleep, or their stomach hurts from being stretched beyond normal capacity. During an eating binge sufferers feel out of control. After a binge, stomach pains and the fear of weight gain are common reasons that those with bulimia nervosa purge by throwing up or using a laxative. This cycle is usually repeated at least several times a week or, in serious cases, several times a day. Many people don’t know when a family member or friend has bulimia nervosa because sufferers almost always hide their binges. Since they don’t become drastically thin, their behaviors may go unnoticed by those closest to them. But bulimia nervosa does have symptoms that should raise red flags:
• Chronically inflamed and sore throat
• Salivary glands in the neck and below the jaw become swollen. Cheeks and face often become puffy, causing sufferers to develop a “chipmunk” looking face
• Tooth enamel wears off, teeth begin to decay from exposure to stomach acids
• Constant vomiting causes gastroesophageal reflux disorder
• Laxative abuse causes irritation, leading to intestinal problems
• Diuretics (water pills) cause kidney problems
• Severe dehydration from purging of fluids
*National Eating Disorder Association
Although they may frequently diet and vigorously exercise, individuals with bulimia nervosa can be slightly underweight, normal weight, overweight or even obese. But, they are never as underweight as anorexia nervosa sufferers. Patients with bulimia nervosa binge eat frequently, and during these times sufferers may eat an astounding amount of food in a short time, often consuming thousands of calories that are high in sugars, carbohydrates, and fat. They can eat very rapidly, sometimes gulping down food without even tasting it.
Their binges often end only when they are interrupted by another person, or they fall asleep, or their stomach hurts from being stretched beyond normal capacity. During an eating binge sufferers feel out of control. After a binge, stomach pains and the fear of weight gain are common reasons that those with bulimia nervosa purge by throwing up or using a laxative. This cycle is usually repeated at least several times a week or, in serious cases, several times a day. Many people don’t know when a family member or friend has bulimia nervosa because sufferers almost always hide their binges. Since they don’t become drastically thin, their behaviors may go unnoticed by those closest to them. But bulimia nervosa does have symptoms that should raise red flags:
• Chronically inflamed and sore throat
• Salivary glands in the neck and below the jaw become swollen. Cheeks and face often become puffy, causing sufferers to develop a “chipmunk” looking face
• Tooth enamel wears off, teeth begin to decay from exposure to stomach acids
• Constant vomiting causes gastroesophageal reflux disorder
• Laxative abuse causes irritation, leading to intestinal problems
• Diuretics (water pills) cause kidney problems
• Severe dehydration from purging of fluids
*National Eating Disorder Association
Binge Eating Disorder
_Presently, the criteria for binge eating disorder are under
investigation or are still being defined. However, people with binge
eating disorder have episodes of binge eating in which they consume very
large quantities of food in a brief period and feel out of control
during the binge. Unlike people with bulimia nervosa, they do not try to
get rid of the food by inducing vomiting or by using other unsafe
practices such as fasting or laxative abuse. The binge eating is chronic
and can lead to serious health complications, particularly severe
obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
*National Institute of Mental Health
*National Institute of Mental Health
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
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Body dysmorphic disorder is a type of chronic mental illness in which you can't stop thinking about a flaw with your appearance — a flaw that is either minor or imagined. But to you, your appearance seems so shameful that you don't want to be seen by anyone. Body dysmorphic disorder has sometimes been called "imagined ugliness."
When you have body dysmorphic disorder, you intensely obsess over your appearance and body image, often for many hours a day. You may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures to try to "fix" your perceived flaws, but never will be satisfied. Body dysmorphic disorder is also known as dysmorphophobia, the fear of having a deformity.
Treatment of body dysmorphic disorder may include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Signs and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder include:
Coping with body dysmorphic disorder can be challenging. It also makes it hard to do things that may help you feel better. Talk to your doctor or therapist about improving your coping skills, and consider these tips to cope with body dysmorphic disorder:
*© 1998-2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Body dysmorphic disorder is a type of chronic mental illness in which you can't stop thinking about a flaw with your appearance — a flaw that is either minor or imagined. But to you, your appearance seems so shameful that you don't want to be seen by anyone. Body dysmorphic disorder has sometimes been called "imagined ugliness."
When you have body dysmorphic disorder, you intensely obsess over your appearance and body image, often for many hours a day. You may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures to try to "fix" your perceived flaws, but never will be satisfied. Body dysmorphic disorder is also known as dysmorphophobia, the fear of having a deformity.
Treatment of body dysmorphic disorder may include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Signs and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder include:
- Preoccupation with your physical appearance
- Strong belief that you have an abnormality or defect in your appearance that makes you ugly
- Frequent examination of yourself in the mirror or, conversely, avoidance of mirrors altogether
- Belief that others take special notice of your appearance in a negative way
- The need to seek reassurance about your appearance from others
- Frequent cosmetic procedures with little satisfaction
- Excessive grooming, such as hair plucking
- Extreme self-consciousness
- Refusal to appear in pictures
- Skin picking
- Comparison of your appearance with that of others
- Avoidance of social situations
- The need to wear excessive makeup or clothing to camouflage perceived flaws
Coping with body dysmorphic disorder can be challenging. It also makes it hard to do things that may help you feel better. Talk to your doctor or therapist about improving your coping skills, and consider these tips to cope with body dysmorphic disorder:
- Write in a journal to express pain, anger, fear or other emotions.
- Don't become isolated. Try to participate in normal activities and get together with family or friends regularly.
- Take care of yourself by eating a healthy diet and getting sufficient sleep.
- Read reputable self-help books and consider talking about them to your doctor or therapist.
- Join a support group so that you can connect to others facing similar challenges.
- Stay focused on your goals. Recovery from body dysmorphic disorder is an ongoing process. Stay motivated by keeping your recovery goals in mind. Remind yourself that you're responsible for managing your illness and working toward your goals.
- Learn relaxation and stress management. Try such stress-reduction techniques as meditation, yoga or tai chi.
- Don't make important decisions, such as having cosmetic surgery, when you're in the depths of despair or distress, because you may not be thinking clearly.
*© 1998-2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research