Binge eating, Anorexia, Bulimia

Binge eating disorder 

Binge eating is a disorder when characterized by episodes of eating large quantities of food to the point of discomfort and then feeling guilt afterwards.
Binge eating is most common in the United States

• 3.5% women
• 2% men 
• 1.5% adolescents

Symptoms 
Eating rapidly, eating until full uncomfortably, feeling disgusted after eating
A feel of not being able to control what is eaten.
Behavioral characteristics 
Evidence of binge eating
secretive food behaviors

Physical characteristics 

body weight varies

Binge eating disorders is often associated with signs of depression. Binge eating is more common than anorexia and bulimia combined.

Anorexia 

Symptoms

• Inadequate food intake leading to a weight that is clearly too low

• Intense fear of weight gain, obsession with weight and persistent behavior to prevent weight gain

• Self-esteem overly related to body image

• Inability to appreciate the severity of the situation

Warning Signs

• Dramatic weight loss

• Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting

• Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g. no carbohydrates, etc)

• Frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss

• Anxiety about gaining weight or being “fat”

• Denial of hunger

• Development of food rituals (e.g. eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate)

• Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food

Health Consequences

• Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower

• Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones

• Muscle loss and weakness

• Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure

• Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness

• Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common

Bulimia Nervosa

a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of binge and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating

Symptoms

• Frequent episodes of consuming very large amount of food followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting
• A feeling of being out of control during the binge-eating episodes
• Self-esteem overly related to body image

Warning Signs

• Evidence of binge eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time or finding wrappers and containers indicating the consumption of large amounts of food.
• Evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics.
• Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the compulsive need to “burn off” calories taken in.
• Unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area.
• Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self-induced vomiting.
• Discoloration or staining of the teeth.

Health Consequences

• Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death
• Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting
• Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting