Summary on lecture Eating disorder, module Understanding Mental Health, course Psychology. The notes are summarised in preparation for an end of semester MCQ test. I passed the test with 1st (A+).
Eating Disorders
• Anorexia Nervosa – when a person tries to keep their weight as low as possible; for
example, by starving themselves or exercising excessively.
• Bulimia Nervosa – when a person goes through periods of binge eating and is then
deliberately sick or uses laxatives (medication to help empty the bowels) to try to
control their weight.
• Binge Eating Disorder– when a person feels compelled to overeat large amounts of
food in a short space of time.
Anorexia Nervosa
• Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by self-starvation
– Person has an intense fear of gaining weight
– Person’s weight is significantly less than their normal expected weight
– Person has a distorted sense of their body shape
In females, anorexia nervosa may lead to a loss of the menstrual period (amenorrhea)
• Ratio of 10 female to 1 male
• 1% of females
• 2% of 15-30 year olds
• 50% of cases are under 20 years
• Starts early adolescence.
Bulimia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa involves episodes of rapid overeating (usually ‘forbidden’ foods)
followed by purging
– A binge is defined as eating an excessive amount of food within two hours.
– Purging refers to vomiting, fasting, excessive exercise or the use of laxatives.
• Bulimia sufferers are not usually underweight
, • Awareness that the behaviour is not normal and feel disgust and guilt after
binge/purge episode.
• The frequency of binge-eating episodes varies, 1 – 46 times/week average is once
daily. Calories consumed during a binge range from 1200 – 11,500.
• Bulimia is associated both with depression & substance abuse.
• 0.5 to 2% of females
• Rare in Males
• Tend to be older the AN sufferers
• Starts late adolescence or early 20’s.
Complications of Anorexia and Bulimia
• Low blood pressure, slow heart rate - AN
• Bone mass reduction - AN
• Kidney and gastrointestinal problems
• Change in hormone levels- periods often stop - AN
• Dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss - AN
• Electrolyte level reduction (potassium and sodium)
• Tiredness, weakness, cardiac arrhythmias and death
• Laxative use can damage bowel lining and effect normal functioning (laxative use
does not reduce calorie intake)
• Reduced concentration
• Reduced higher level functioning (e.g. abstract reasoning)
• Emotional regression.
Gender differences
• There is no doubt society has generally placed greater emphasis on women’s
appearance than men’s and this may help account for difference. However, the
media are placing more and more emphasis on men’s body image, especially the “V-
Shape” ideal.
• It was once thought the ratio of female to male eating disorders was 10.1, it may be
as low, however, as 3.1.
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