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Swin-eCounselling Resources – Eating Disorders

Having a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle is vital in maintaining a health body and mind. While many people choose to diet in order to get healthier, feel, or even look better, it should always be done with the help …

Swin-eCounselling Resources – Eating Disorders

Having a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle is vital in maintaining a health body and mind. While many people choose to diet in order to get healthier, feel, or even look better, it should always be done with the help of a professional. Sometimes the desire to control our bodies can become so great that the diet may get out of control, and can cause serious physiological problems. This is what is known as an Eating Disorder. People can develop an eating disorder for many reasons, however it is typically thought in Australia that Eating Disorders are related to a psychological disturbance of body image or a displaced symptom of another psychological concern. For instance a young girl may attempt to starve herself of food as a means of outwardly communicating the problems she experiences at home.

There are 3 main types of Eating Disorders:

The symptoms and causes of Eating Disorders can vary substantially from person to person, however, so if you believe that you have experienced any of the symptoms mentioned below, or are attempting to avoid or purge your food, it is important that you make an appointment with a healthcare professional as soon as possible to deal with these symptoms before they become more serious.

* World Health Organisation. (2003). International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision. [Electronic Version].


Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by deliberate weight loss that is intentionally induced and sustained by the sufferer. It occurs most commonly in adolescent girls and young women, but adolescent boys as well as men and women of all ages can also be affected. The disorder is associated with a specific dread of being fat or flabby, and the sufferer typically imposes a low weight threshold on themselves.

There is usually under-nutrition of varying severity with resulting physiological changes and disturbances of bodily function. The symptoms include restricted dietary choice, excessive exercise, induced vomiting and purgation, and use of appetite suppressants and diuretics.


Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by repeated bouts of overeating and an excessive preoccupation with the control of body weight, leading to a pattern of overeating followed by vomiting or use of purgatives. This disorder shares many psychological features with anorexia nervosa, including an overconcern with body shape and weight. Repeated vomiting is likely to give rise to disturbances of body electrolytes and physical complications. There is often, but not always, a history of an earlier episode of anorexia nervosa.


Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

Because the symptoms and causes of Eating Disorders can vary markedly between individuals, sometimes an Eating Disorder may be identified but cannot be classified as either Anorexia or Bulimia Nervosa. A diagnosis of an Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified may be given in these instances.

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