February is National Eating Disorder Awareness Month
Posted Jan 07 2009 6:52pm
Canada, The United Kingdom and The United States use February 2007 to mark Eating Disorder Awarness.
Generally, eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight and food, and eating habits that disrupts normal body function, and daily life activities.
What causes eating disorders is not entirely clear, though a combination of psychological, genetic, social and family factors are thought to contribute to the disorder.
Types of Eating Disorders
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 food from the body or prevent 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.
Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS ) ~ A range of other disordered eating patterns don’t fit into the other types of eating disorders. These eating patterns are still serious, and intervention and attention are necessary. EDNOS include:
*Eating problems with some, but not all, of the characteristics of a full-fledged eating disorder; for example, people who severely restrict food intake, but who do not meet the full criteria for anorexia nervosa
*Chewing food and spitting it out (without swallowing)
*Bingeing and purging irregularly, such as at times of increased stress
Left unattended, eating disorders can lead to serious health problems or even death. Sadly, one of my blogger friends just died from Anorexia.
Generally, eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight and food, and eating habits that disrupts normal body function, and daily life activities.
What causes eating disorders is not entirely clear, though a combination of psychological, genetic, social and family factors are thought to contribute to the disorder.
Types of Eating Disorders
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 food from the body or prevent 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.
Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS ) ~ A range of other disordered eating patterns don’t fit into the other types of eating disorders. These eating patterns are still serious, and intervention and attention are necessary. EDNOS include:
*Eating problems with some, but not all, of the characteristics of a full-fledged eating disorder; for example, people who severely restrict food intake, but who do not meet the full criteria for anorexia nervosa
*Chewing food and spitting it out (without swallowing)
*Bingeing and purging irregularly, such as at times of increased stress
Left unattended, eating disorders can lead to serious health problems or even death. Sadly, one of my blogger friends just died from Anorexia.
Resources
The National Eating Disorder Information Centre: Canada
Eating Disorders Association: United Kingdom
The National Eating Disorders Association: United States