Eating Disorders
(Bulimia · Anorexia · Binge eating)
In this condition factsheet:
Diagnosing Eating Disorders
To diagnose eating disorders, doctors generally only need signs and symptoms based on a physical exam and a detailed medical or personal history. In the case of a person with anorexia, they are often diagnosed when they experience other medical issues, or when other family members notice unusual behaviours and encourage them to seek medical help.
A diagnosis of anorexia is made when a person has a very low body weight caused by restriction of food intake, an intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted understanding of the impacts of their low body weight for at least 3 months.
Avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder is diagnosed when food restriction is unrelated to socioeconomic, psychological, cultural, or medical factors and leads to significant weight loss.
To be diagnosed with bulimia, a person must have at least one episode of laxative or diuretic abuse or vomiting each week for 3 months. Doctors can also check for other clues such as swollen salivary glands in the cheeks and erosion of tooth enamel from stomach acid.
A diagnosis of binge eating disorder includes an episode of binge eating occurring at least once a week for 3 months, along with a feeling of lack of control over-eating.
Blood tests can reveal abnormalities in hormone levels that help rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. There is no test that is diagnostic and the diagnosis of an eating disorder is made by clinical assessment.
Treating and Preventing Eating Disorders
People with anorexia rarely seek or want treatment, since they usually don't acknowledge or admit they have a problem. It's often left to family members and friends to recognize the eating disorder and to urge them to get treatment.
Anorexia usually doesn't get better without treatment. People with anorexia need medical and professional help to get better, and it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. The biggest obstacle to treating anorexia is the person's unwillingness to undergo treatment.
The primary goal of therapy is to get the person to return to normal weight. Nutritional supplements are used until the person's weight is considered to be within normal range. In general, people with anorexia don't consider their behaviour to be abnormal or unhealthy, so it's very difficult to convince them that they have a serious problem and to get them to eat normally. If the condition is severe to the point of emaciation, hospitalization is usually necessary.
Counselling for both the individual and the family is commonly part of a treatment plan. This involves cognitive-behavioural therapy, where patients are counselled about body image issues, weight management, normal eating habits, nutrition, and the effects of starvation. There is no specific drug therapy to treat anorexia. Medications such as antidepressants are only useful for associated problems such as depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Therapy is often continued for 1 to 2 years. But in some cases, anorexia becomes a lifelong problem and may require long-term counselling and management.
In those with avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder, cognitive behavioural therapy is the main form of treatment.
People with bulimia usually want and seek treatment, since they recognize their eating disorder is abnormal and is harmful to their health and happiness. People with bulimia rarely require hospitalization. They're usually treated with a combination of cognitive-behavioural therapy and medications. Antidepressants are often prescribed, which may reduce food craving and binge eating episodes.
Psychotherapy is used to create awareness and to educate about eating patterns and behaviours, as well as to deal with distorted thoughts about body image and weight. Group and family therapy are commonly used to manage bulimia and are quite effective. As with anorexia, many people with bulimia who get early and prompt treatment will have a full recovery and suffer minimal long-term ill effects.
Some people with binge eating disorders avoid seeking treatment because they feel embarrassed. Some do not perceive binge eating disorder to be a valid medical condition and therefore do not seek medical help. Most patients with binge eating disorder are treated with psychotherapy that helps them identify binge eating triggers and learn coping strategies to avoid acting on binge eating urges. Medications such as antidepressants or lisdexamfetamine* are also used in addition to psychotherapy.
Most people with eating disorders will get better with treatment. However, the recovery process may take a long time, and some may relapse and experience the symptoms again. It is important to get help if your symptoms return.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Eating-Disorders
References
