What Are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are described as an extreme compulsion to either avoid eating or to overeat that result in negative consequences on both physical and psychological health. There are a range of eating disorders described in the medical literature however the most common and well-known disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. These three conditions have distinct features however they share the characteristic of causing serious and often very dangerous effects on health and in severe cases may even result in death. In addition to these three major categories of eating disorders there are several other kinds that are less common or have milder effects and as such they are often not seen in the same negative light as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder.

Anorexia nervosa is considered as both an eating disorder and a psychiatric disorder. Generally it is related to a distortion of perception of body image and is much more common in women than men, however the frequency in men is increasing. These individuals develop extreme habits including severe calorie restriction, voluntary fasting, excessive exercise and abuse of diet pills and laxatives in order to achieve the perceived ideal of 'perfection' as is so often portrayed in the media and our society in general. Anorexia nervosa can have a very serious impact on the functioning of the digestive and nervous systems.

Bulimia nervosa is generally referred to as a condition involving purging through vomiting, laxative abuse and the method known as 'chewing and spitting'. The psychological causes involved in bulimia are similar to that of anorexia, however in this case the individuals experience the pleasure of eating whatever is desired, and then by inducing vomiting, the 'consequences' of increased calorie intake are avoided. Vomiting can damage the lining of the stomach and esophagus due to the stomach acids contacting these tissues, and for the same reason it can contribute to erosion of tooth enamel. Bulimia can also lead to severe nutritional depletion as the digestive system does not have time to extract valuable nutritional elements including vitamins and minerals from the food.

In both of these cases psychological factors are thought play a major role in the development of the disorders, however in some cases there may be underlying physiological disruptions such as gastrointestinal conditions, neurotransmitter imbalances or chronic illness that may be the underlying cause of the condition.

An unhealthy diet and general overeating may also be regarded to be an eating disorder. Excessive intake of fast food, alcohol and a lack of fruit and vegetables in the diet, may be considered to be an actual eating disorder, or may over time lead to the development of an eating disorder. Even though there may not be a distinct psychological cause, these types of disordered eating patterns may be easily triggered by our fast paced lifestyles and a diet that is lacking in an intake of a wide variety of healthy foods.

By  Mizpah Matus