Eating and Feeding DisordersAccording to the National Institute for Mental Health, prevalence rates for Eating Disorders indicate that 7 out of 100 individuals in the United States meets diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder over the course of their lifetime. Eating Disorders affect more women than men. However, despite the gender differences in prevalence, men represent 25 percent of individuals with anorexia and have a higher risk of death due to the false belief that eating disorders are a female specific disorder. Overall, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
What is an eating disorder?Eating Disorders are characterized by a persistent and a severe disturbance in a person’s eating behaviors that results in an altered consumption or absorption of food and that significantly impairs functioning in important areas of life. Another sign of an eating disorder may be obsessions related to food, weight, and shape. Commonly known eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. Less commonly know disorders are those of feeding, and they include Pica, Rumination Disorder, and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by a persistent and severe reduction in energy intake relative to requirements, usually food restriction, leading to a significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health. Those with Anorexia Nervosa, engage in a relentless pursuit of thinness due to an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. They often have a distorted body image, meaning they see themselves as overweight despite expressed concerns about their low body weight or weight loss. Lastly, people with Anorexia Nervosa often lack recognition of the seriousness of their current low body weight, and will often find socially acceptable ways to explain their behaviors, such as calling restriction fasting, and much of their self-worth is unduly influenced by their weight or shape. Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by eating, in a discrete period of time, an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most individuals would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances, and a sense of lack of control over eating during that time. An individual with Bulimia Nervosa also engages in recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as vomiting (purging), misuse of laxatives, diuretics, other medications, fasting and excessive exercise. Self-evaluation is also unduly influenced by body shape and weight. Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by eating, in a discrete period of time, an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most individuals would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances, and a sense of lack of control over eating during that time. The individual experiences marked distress over the binge, but does not engage in compensatory behaviors, as explained above. |
Vanessa Osmer, MA, LCPC
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Pica is a feeding disorder that is characterized by the persistent eating of non-nutritive, nonfood substances that is inappropriate to the development level of the individual and not part of a culturally supported or normative practice. The nonfood substances may be common products such as paper towels or nail polish.
Rumination Disorder is a feeding disorder that is characterized by repeated regurgitation of food which may be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out. The repeated regurgitation is not better accounted for by a medical condition or in the context of another mental health condition.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is a feeding disorder that is characterized by an apparent lack of interest in eating or food, as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs. The disturbance is not better accounted for by a lack of food availability.
People with eating and feeding disorders often feel shameful and confused about their symptoms. They frequently experience strong urges, negative automatic thoughts, and rapid mood shifts due to the emotional and physical toll the disorder takes on their health and overall functioning.
Rumination Disorder is a feeding disorder that is characterized by repeated regurgitation of food which may be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out. The repeated regurgitation is not better accounted for by a medical condition or in the context of another mental health condition.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is a feeding disorder that is characterized by an apparent lack of interest in eating or food, as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs. The disturbance is not better accounted for by a lack of food availability.
People with eating and feeding disorders often feel shameful and confused about their symptoms. They frequently experience strong urges, negative automatic thoughts, and rapid mood shifts due to the emotional and physical toll the disorder takes on their health and overall functioning.
How Do You Treat Eating Disorders?
The good news is that there are highly effective treatments for Eating Disorders, and early intervention is important. First-line treatments of most eating disorders include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), medications, or both.
CBT for eating disorders involves psycho-education, cognitive restructuring, and in-vivo exposures to fear foods and situations. These components are meant to help alter unhelpful thinking and behavioral patterns that cause and perpetuate the disorder. Your therapist will likely incorporate components of mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral approaches as well, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) when indicated.
If getting help to address your eating and self-esteem issues seems scary, don’t worry, we understand and you are not alone. Your therapist is there to guide you every step of the way, by providing you with every tool necessary, including support. Recovering from an eating disorder is difficult, but it can be done. We feel strongly that our therapist at OakHeart can help guide you in the process.
CBT for eating disorders involves psycho-education, cognitive restructuring, and in-vivo exposures to fear foods and situations. These components are meant to help alter unhelpful thinking and behavioral patterns that cause and perpetuate the disorder. Your therapist will likely incorporate components of mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral approaches as well, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) when indicated.
If getting help to address your eating and self-esteem issues seems scary, don’t worry, we understand and you are not alone. Your therapist is there to guide you every step of the way, by providing you with every tool necessary, including support. Recovering from an eating disorder is difficult, but it can be done. We feel strongly that our therapist at OakHeart can help guide you in the process.
