{"id":5562,"date":"2013-12-06T12:02:12","date_gmt":"2013-12-06T17:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ccpa.scottbuckingham.ca\/blog\/?p=3149"},"modified":"2013-12-06T12:02:12","modified_gmt":"2013-12-06T17:02:12","slug":"the-effects-of-eating-disorders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ccpa-accp.ca\/fr\/the-effects-of-eating-disorders\/","title":{"rendered":"The Effects of Eating Disorders"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cRivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.\u201d
\n~ A. A. Milne<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Eating is a natural and an essential part of life.\u00a0 The function of food is to nourish the body, but was created to be enjoyed by human beings, as well.\u00a0 For many, few thoughts are more exaggerated or obsessed, than those who struggle with eating disorders.\u00a0 An eating disorder cannot only consume your every thought, but it can, and often does, consume your very existence.\u00a0 You become a prisoner of your own thoughts, and are robbed of many of the joys of everyday living.<\/p>\n

As a clinician, I have worked with many who have struggled with eating disorders<\/strong> and disordered eating<\/strong>.\u00a0 Eating disorders can be defined as disorders that are characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits.\u00a0 \u201cAn eating disorder is a collection of interrelated eating habits, weight management practices and attitudes about food, weight and body shape that have become disordered… This disordered eating behavior is usually an effort to solve a variety of emotional difficulties about which the individual feels out of control. Males and females of all social and economic classes, races and intelligence levels can develop an eating disorder.\u201d (PBS, Online, 2013)\u00a0\u00a0 Hollywood perpetuates many of these distorted ideals by placing a high value on vanity and perfection. Teenagers are especially impacted by these unrealistic standards, and are daunted by societal pressures to the point of self-sabotage and self-abuse. Unfortunately, in the case of eating disorders <\/strong>and disordered eating<\/strong>, food is the weapon of choice and the individual is the victim of faulty beliefs generated by himself\/herself.<\/p>\n

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has three primary classifications for eating disorders, they are:\u00a0\u00a0 Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating, and Bulmia Nervosa. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The DSM-5 has defined the primary types and symptoms of eating disorders as being:<\/em><\/p>\n


\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Anorexia nervosa<\/strong>:\u00a0 Anorexia nervosa, which primarily affects adolescent girls and\u00a0 young women, is characterized by distorted body image and excessive dieting that leads to severe weight loss with a pathological fear of becoming fat.<\/p>\n

Binge Eating Disorder<\/strong>:\u00a0 Binge eating disorder is defined as recurring episodes of eating significantly more food in a short period of time than most people would eat under \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 similar circumstances, with episodes marked by feelings of lack of control. Someone with \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 binge eating disorder may eat too quickly, even when he or she is not hungry. The person \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 may have feelings of guilt, embarrassment, or disgust and may binge eat alone to hide the behavior. This disorder is associated with marked distress and occurs, on average, at least once a week over three months.<\/p>\n

Bulimia Nervosa<\/strong>:\u00a0 Bulimia nervosa is characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate behaviors such as self-induced vomiting to avoid weight gain.<\/p>\n

Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)<\/strong>:\u00a0 is the diagnostician\u2019s (psychologist, psychiatrist, etc) tool to explain why a diagnosis has either been deferred, not specified, or other disorders have been ruled out.<\/p>\n

Eating disorders are rarely caused by food consumption, weight preoccupation, and preoccupation with food.\u00a0 In a majority of eating disorder cases, the patient is suffering, coping, or afflicted with a much graver psychological dynamic.\u00a0 The dynamic may ignite stress or an anxiety causing an unmanageable pressure, tension, or an emphasis on a specific aspect of one\u2019s life.\u00a0 Furthermore, the stressor may be related to an environmental, behavioral, interpersonal, intrapersonal, or a familial event.<\/p>\n

The thoughts of someone struggling with an eating disorder often reflect the following sentiments:<\/p>\n