Paper Example on Eating Disorders: Anorexia & Bulimia - Shared Characteristics

Introduction

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are eating disorders that develop when individuals have a prolonged habit of taking either too much or too little food. People affected by anorexia nervosa try to reduce their weight by reducing the intake of food (Matsumoto et al 2015). While those suffering from bulimia nervosa eat an excessive amount of food and also engage some crude methods of avoiding wait gain through inducing vomiting. The disorders have some similar characteristics as follows; they show similar behavioral and psychological symptoms. The affected individuals are obsessed with food, weight, and body image (Matsumoto et al 2015). Both disorders mainly affect the young female population however, anorexia is more likely to attack them in early teen years whereas bulimia sets in as they enter their late teens. Most of their symptoms are also similar.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

On the other hand, there are notable differences in these disorders. Individuals affected by anorexia are likely to develop fear for weight gain and as a result, they avoid eating. While those affected by bulimia have a tendency of overeating and thereafter purging to the fear of gaining a lot of weight. Anorexia nervosa leads to severe weight loss while bulimia nervosa patients maintain a normal to slightly low weight

Who is more likely to suffer from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa? Why?

According to Striegel-Moore et al. (2009), one percent of the American population is at risk of developing anorexia, while another 1.5 percent are prone to developing bulimia before their adulthood. Most of the patients are female teenagers because this population is more concerned with their body image.

What are the causes contributing to anorexia nervosa?

Though there are no direct causes of eating disorders, they are associated with psychological and environmental factors. Over the years, they have been associated with stressful situations, inheritance, culture, and family life. Genetic causes occur when there is a history of a family member who was diagnosed with eating disorders due to any genetic predispositions like perfectionism. Anorexia can also develop as a result of alterations in the emotional wellbeing of an individual. People with a history of trauma or any other mental health illnesses such as depression or anxiety are likely to develop eating disorders. The social environment is also an essential factor in the development of eating disorders. The current social trends that add beauty to thin and slim appearances influence people to bad eating habits. That way, they become obsessed with their social environment and start reducing the amount of food they consume and avoiding other meals completely hence leading to eating disorders.

What are the consequences of eating disorders?

Eating disorders are likely to lead to other problems for instance, the extreme fear caused by both anorexia and bulimia can lead to other psychological effects such as depression, and anxiety. They are also prone to body dysmorphic disorder and low self-esteem (Herpertz et al., 2011). Extreme anorexia can lead to other health issues such as anemia, loss of bone, arrhythmia, kidney failure, fatigue, and heart-related diseases. The health risks increases due to the lack of sufficient energy for the proper functioning of the vital organs. This way, the patient may starve and some extreme cases cause eventual death. Due to the purging effect in bulimia patients, the esophagus distorts and teeth begin to decay and erode as a result of the frequent passing of digestive acids. Henceforth, the body suffers from vitamin deficiency even though a normal body weight may be maintained. Other consequences of bulimia include the development of ulcers, gland inflammation, kidney, and heart failure.

How can one diagnose eating disorders?

Multiple ways are used in diagnosing of these eating disorders. They include a physical examination of BMI and asking mental health based questions regarding eating habits. Other physical examinations include listening to the heart and lungs since the disorders can potentially lead to slow breathing, slow pulse rates, or cause either high or low blood pressure (Herpertz et al., 2011). Lab tests are necessary to examine the extent of the effect and verify if the disorders. Some of the lab tests include a complete blood count, urinalysis, tests on vital organs such as the liver and kidney, and thyroid functioning (Herpertz et al., 2011). If no medical complications are determined, dieticians, and nutritionists set in for farther evaluation.

Patients with anorexia nervosa will be found under restriction to food and a BMI result that is under the recommended normal (Herpertz et al., 2011). They have an intense fear of increasing weight and often developed misconceptions about weight gain and body image. Patients with bulimia nervosa normally have recurrent binge-eating episodes, misuse of laxatives regular self-induced vomiting, and fasting. They also believe in distorted perceptions around weight gain and body image.

What are the treatment and support options for a person who has eating disorders?

Eating disorders require some treatment and therapy for patients’ full recovery. For anorexia, patients may be hospitalized in extreme health cases, however, both cases require attention by medical and behavioral health professionals including dieticians, doctors, therapists, psychiatrists. The following therapies are necessary; healthy nutrition, individual counseling, family therapy, psychiatric care, and self-acceptance (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2004).Various medications are necessary for the treatment of these disorders. For anorexia, they include olanzapine for stimulating and encouraging eating for anorexia and anti-depressants for patients who may have developed depression and anxiety. Patients with bulimia can be treated by administration of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) which is an antidepressant that works by increasing the serotonin levels in the brain (Herpertz et al., 2011). Antiemetic drugs are essential in the management of purging.

The patients will further undergo therapy sessions that include rehabilitation programs that will help the body rejuvenate and adjust to prevalent prescription. The patients are subjected to cognitive behavior therapy and talk therapy to address past trauma. Another essential program is family therapy which is achieved by improving communications within a family and sharing with them upcoming body image concerns and common misconceptions. This aspect will help reduce pressure and stress while the family members will also help the patient in managing their eating habits.

References

Herpertz, S., Hagenah, U., Vocks, S., von Wietersheim, J., Cuntz, U., Zeeck, A., German Society of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, & German College for Psychosomatic Medicine (2011). The diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders. Deutsches Arzteblatt international 108(40), pp. 678–685. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2011.0678

National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK). (2004). Eating Disorders: Core Interventions in the Treatment and Management of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders. British Psychological Society: NICE Clinical Guidelines 9(6). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK49301/

Matsumoto, J., Hirano, Y., Numata, N., Matzuzawa, D., Murano, S., Yokote, K., Iyo, M., Shimizu, E., & Nakazato, M. (2015). Comparison in decision-making between bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and healthy women: influence of mood status and pathological eating concerns. Journal of eating disorders 3(14). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-015-0050-6

Striegel-Moore, R. H., Rosselli, F., Perrin, N., DeBar, L., Wilson, G. T., May, A., & Kraemer, H. C. (2009). Gender difference in the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms. The International journal of eating disorders 42(5), 471–474. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20625