Title: Eating Disorders

Group Members:
Jasleen Kaur (3)
Ameesha Kumar (19)
Asmiuta Sharma (43)

Definition of Eating disorder

Formally classified as "feeding and eating disorders" in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the term "eating disorders" represents a group of complex
mental health conditions that can seriously impair health and social functioning. Because of
the physical nature of their defining symptoms, eating disorders can cause both emotional
distress and significant medical complications. They also have the highest mortality rate of
any mental disorder.

Types of Eating Disorders

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Bulimia Nervosa (BN)
Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Orthorexia Nervosa
Pica
Rumination Disorder
Pica
• The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) defines pica as eating nonnutritive, nonfood
substances over a period of at least one month.
• According to APA, PICA is a rare eating disorder marked by a persistent craving for
unnatural, nonnutritive substances, such as plaster, paint, hair, starch, or dirt.
• It is most commonly observed in children, pregnant women, and individuals with
developmental or intellectual disabilities, but can affect people of any age and gender.
• PICA is characterized by the persistent consumption of non-nutritive substances, such
as: Dirt or soil, Clay, Chalk, Paper, Hair, Soap, Paint chips, Ice (pagophagia), Metal
objects, Starch, etc.

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• Possible causes: nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc, or other minerals), neglect, lack
of supervision, developmental disorders, family or environmental influences, and
certain mental health conditions.
• Symptoms – acquired taste for a specific substance, deficiency in minerals such as
zinc or iron, mental health disorders or developmental issues (OCD, imbalance in
brain chemicals, brain injury)
• Diagnostic Criteria:
A. Persistent eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances over a period of at least
one month
B. The eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances is inappropriate to the
developmental level of the individual
C. The eating behavior is not part of culturally supported or socially normative
practice
D. If the eating behavior occurs in the context of another mental disorder or
medical condition it is sufficiently severe to warrant additional clinical
attention.
• Types of commonly used psychotherapy and interventions:

CBT, Family Based Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and
Commitment Therapy (ACT), Play Therapy (for kids), Nutritional Counseling, Skill-
Building and Emotional Regulation, Exploring Underlying Emotions and Trauma,
Identifying Triggers and Coping Mechanisms, Relapse Prevention, Mindfulness and
Grounding Techniques, Family and Environmental Interventions and medication if
needed. (In some instances, medication may be prescribed to address underlying
psychiatric conditions that contribute to PICA, such as anxiety or obsessive-
compulsive disorder).
• https://youtu.be/DokB8L7uGS0

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 Anorexia Nervosa: Understanding the Eating Disorder
Definition
According to DSM 5 - A serious and possibly fatal mental health condition called anorexia
nervosa is characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight, a relentless pursuit of thinness,
and a distorted perception of one's body size and shape. People who suffer from anorexia
nervosa frequently severely restrict their food intake, which causes severe weight loss and
malnutrition. Those affected may feel overweight even though they are significantly
underweight, which fuels a relentless desire to lose even more weight.
Diagnostic Criteria
A. Restriction of energy intake relative to requirements
B. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, or persistent behavior that interferes
with weight gain, even though the person is at a significantly low weight.
C. C. Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue
influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or persistent lack of recognition
of the seriousness of the current low body weight.

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specify whether:

1.Restricting Type

2.Binge-Eating/Purging Types

Specify current severity:

The DSM-5 provides severity ratings based on BMI (Body Mass Index):

Mild: BMI >= 17.0 kg/m²

Moderate: BMI 16.0-16.99 kg/m²

Severe: BMI 15.0-15.99 kg/m²

Extreme: BMI < 15.0 kg/m²

Symptoms

● Extreme weight loss

● Restricted food intake

● Intense fear of weight gain

● Physical symptoms

● Denial of the severity of problem

● Obsessive calorie counting and food rituals

Potential factors affecting Anorexia Nervosa

A. Psychological Factors

➢ General Characteristics

➢ Personality Traits

➢ Negative body image

B. Developmental Factors

➢ Adolescence as common onset

➢ Peer factors

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 ➢ Early puberty risk

C . Occupational Factors

➢ Higher risk activities

➢ Prevalence in ballet dancers

➢ Occupational & Social pressure

D Social and cultural factors

➢ Western cultural influence

➢ Impact of media exposure

Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

1. Interpersonal Therapy [IPT] – It focuses on improving interpersonal relationships

and communication skills , which can help address underlying emotional issues
contributing to eating disorders.

2. Nutritional Counselling – It involves working with a registered dietitian or

nutritionist to create a balanced meal plan to support physical health and recovery.

3. Cognitve -Behavioral Therapy [CBT-E] – It’s a specialized form of cognitive

behavioral therapy designed to treat various eating disorders . CBT-E focuses on
addressing the psychological factors that contribute to the maintenance of these
disorders.

4. Pharmacotherapy – Prozac have resulted in some reports of weight gain in Anorexia

Nervosa patients.

5. Family Therapy – Family therapy recognizes the significant impact of family

dynamics on the development and maintenance of the eating disorder.

Myths & Facts of Anorexia Nervosa

Myth: People choose to have Anorexia Nervosa

Fact : People do not choose to have anorexia. Anorexia is a serious illness.

Myth : Individuals with anorexia are just trying to get attention.

Fact: It is maladaptive, anorexia can sometimes serve as a person’s way to cope with
something painful in his or her life.

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Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/41WLzeudMvo

Bulimia Nervosa

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According to APA Individuals with bulimia nervosa exhibit recurrent episodes of binge
eating,engage in inappropriate behavior to avoid weight gain (e.g., self-induced vomiting),
and are overly concerned with body shape and weight. However, unlike individuals with
anorexia nervosa, binge-eating/purging type, individuals with bulimia nervosa maintain body
weight at or above a minimally normal level.
Characteristics:
1.Consuming an unusually large amount of food in a short period of time (binge eating).
2.Getting rid of the food (purging). Purging may involve making yourself throw up
(vomiting) or taking laxatives. Laxatives are medications that speed up the movement of food
through your body.
3.Misuse of water pills (diuretics) or diet pills.
4.Eating very little or not at all (fasting).
5.Excessively exercising.
6.Hiding food to binge and purge later.

● It is more observed in females than males

● Typically develops during adolescence or early adulthood.

Difference of people with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?

People with bulimia nervosa usually have a normal weight. They engage in a cycle of binging
and purging. People with anorexia nervosa are usually underweight. They engage in self-
starvation, extreme diets and extreme exercise to lose weight. People with anorexia nervosa
think they’re fat even though they’re very thin. They may get so thin they look sick.
Signs and symptoms:
● Frequent visits to the bathroom, particularly after meals.
● Excessive exercising.
● Preoccupation with body image.
● Intense fear of gaining weight.
● Depression, anxiety or substance abuse.
● Feeling out of control.
● Feeling guilty or shameful about eating.
● Withdrawing socially from friends and family.
● Gastrointestinal problems
● Fainting.
● Irregular menstrual periods.
● Bloodshot eyes.
● Dehydration.

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Diagnostic Criteria:
A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized
by both of the following:
1. Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount
of food that is definitely larger than what most individuals would eat in a
similar period of time under similar circumstances.
2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that
one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).
B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors in order to prevent weight gain,
such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other
medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.
C. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on
average, at least once a week for 3 months.
D. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia nervosa.
Causes: The exact cause for bulimia nervosa is not known but genetics and learned
behaviours are the factors affects individual.
Treatment:
Psychotherapy:
1.Cognitive behavioral therapy to help you normalize your eating patterns and identify
unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones.
2.Family-based treatment to help parents intervene to stop their teenager's unhealthy eating
behaviors, to help the teen regain control over his or her eating, and to help the family deal
with problems that bulimia can have on the teen's development and the family.
3.Interpersonal psychotherapy, which addresses difficulties in your close relationships,
helping to improve your communication and problem-solving skills.
Nutritional counseling: Nutrition counseling involves learning healthier ways to eat. You'll
work with a registered dietitian or counselor to get back on track.
Medication: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a type of antidepressant. They can
reduce the frequency of binge eating and vomiting. But the long-term effectiveness of these
drugs isn’t clear. They’re also effective at treating anxiety and depression. These conditions
are common among people with bulimia nervosa.
Support groups: Support groups can be helpful when used with other forms of treatment. In
support groups, people and their families meet and share their stories.

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YouTube link: https://youtu.be/6q0IGdPwfOU

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