eating disorder

eating

 [ēt´ing]

the act of ingestion.

binge eating uncontrolled ingestion of large quantities of food in a given amount of time, often with a sense of lack of control over the activity. It is sometimes followed by purging.

eating disorder any in a group of disorders in which abnormal feeding habits are associated with psychological factors. Characteristics may include a distorted attitude toward eating, handling and hoarding food in unusual ways, loss of body weight, nutritional deficiencies, dental erosion, electrolyte imbalances, and denial of extreme thinness. More common conditions include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Persons with eating disorders of this kind characteristically misperceive themselves as either overweight or of normal weight. Eating disorders have reached epidemic proportions throughout the world, especially among women under the age of 25. The condition is seen only in countries in which food is readily available; it is not found in parts of the world where famine and starvation threaten.

Patient Care. Treatment of eating disorders usually is on an outpatient basis unless severe malnutrition and electrolyte imbalances demand aggressive therapy, severe depression and suicidal tendencies endanger the patient, or there is evidence that the patient cannot cope with daily living without resorting to abnormal eating patterns and purging. Additionally, the family and home environment may be creating unbearable tension because of a power struggle over the patient's abnormal eating pattern.ƒ

Although there are various modes of therapy for eating disorders, the goals of care are to help the patient (1) normalize eating behaviors, (2) develop a more realistic perception of his or her body and its need for food, (3) learn more healthful and effective adaptive coping mechanisms, (4) learn more about the issues and conflicts underlying the eating disorder, (5) utilize support systems more effectively, and (6) improve his or her sense of self-worth and self-esteem.

Nursing diagnostic categories that are commonly associated with eating disorders include alteration in nutrition, alteration in bowel elimination (constipation), ineffective family coping, self-care deficit (feeding), disturbance in self-concept, sexual dysfunction, spiritual distress, and role disturbance.

A holistic approach to correction of abnormal eating patterns requires an interdisciplinary approach and the cooperative and coordinated efforts of physicians, nurses, social workers, physical therapists, dietitians, and mental health workers.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

eating disorder

n.

Any of various psychiatric disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

eating disorder

Psychiatry Any of a group of conditions–eg, anorexia nervosa–AN, bulimia nervosa–BN, binge-eating disorder–BED and variants–characterized by a serious disturbance in eating–eg, a marked ↓ in intake or bingeing and distress or excessive concern about body shape or weight, which may have an adverse effect on health due to physiologic sequelae of altered nutrition or purging Epidemiology More common in industrialized societies, where 3% of young ♀ have ED; 5-15% of AN and 40% of BED occur in ♂; 50% of EDs are unrecognized Clinical Extremely low weight, hypotension, bradycardia, hypothermia, dry skin, hypercarotenemia, lanugo, acrocyanosis, breast atrophy, amenorrhea, delayed puberty, swollen salivary glands, abnormal dentition, perimolysis, abrasions on the dorsum of the hand, prolonged QT interval, reduced left ventricular mass Lab Normal in absence of emesis; ↓ K+ with ↑ bicarbonate is linked to frequent vomiting or diuretic use; non-anion gap acidosis is linked to laxative abuse; ↓ Na+ occurs in AN, reflecting ↑ water intake or SIADH; also hypoglycemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia and ↓ TSH; ↑ cortisol Management Medical treatment for complications of abnormal weight and purging, TPN for severe malnutrition; psychiatric treatment–individual, group or family therapy; psychodynamic psychotherapy; psychopharmacology is ± effective for most EDs except AN Prognosis 80% recovery partially or completely. See Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, Binge-eating disorder.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Patient discussion about eating disorder

Q. I have been struggling with an eating disorder. Can I reverse this? Hi everybody! Here is Tom of 25 yrs old male. I have been struggling with an eating disorder. Now I have low bone density into the osteoporosis level. My level is -2.6. I'm still young, is there hope for me? Can I reverse this? Are there any herbs or other supplements that may help me?

A. most people who has eating disorder wouldn't believe you if you'll say them they have a problem. anorexic girls believe they are fat even when they are all skin and bones. you passed that stage. that stage was the hard one. not that you are facing an easy journey, but the hardest part is behind you. here is a site that will be a big help for you:

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=286&Profile_ID=41156

Q. what should i eat and not eat

A. depends on the situation,but i would talk to a nutrition professional,

Q. Can eating carbs help you lose weight?

A. nope- they do just the opposite. carbohydrates are a compound sugar. there are diets that use only carbs, diets that use non but in the end- they are just unhealthy.

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