Embedded Files
Thank you for visiting our site! Please feel free to share with anyone you believe may benefit from the information provided.
A Dangerous Disorder
An eating disorder is a serious disorder, affecting both men and women, that inhibits the mind and body's ability to function at full capacity. While every eating disorder looks a little different, the broadest way someone can define an eating disorder is an unhealthy or "abnormal" relationship with nutrition and exercise that can result in obsessive habits and interferes with an individual's daily life.
Although eating disorders come in many different forms, Anorexia Nervosa is what Nick was diagnosed with in high school.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa, most commonly known as "anorexia" or an individual being "anorexic," is an eating disorder that is characterized by weight loss through restricting, exercising, or purging. It is also common that an individual with anorexia struggles with their body image, although not all individuals "seem" like they are underweight.
Exercising
Exercising in an individual with anorexia is oftentimes exercise beyond the "norm". For example, it is common for an individual to exercise at extreme, sometimes dangerous, intensity, or length for the purpose of burning calories to lose weight. While it may be hard to decipher regular training in a competitive athlete with exercise associated with an eating disorder, oftentimes an athlete with anorexia will exercise for an abnormal amount of time for the sole purpose of burning calories or to compensate for a meal.
Restricting
Restricting is a term used for cutting caloric intake to a point that is unhealthy, oftentimes despite constant hunger. Sometimes, restricted consumption is very clear. For example, an individual skipping a meal because they wish to avoid the calories associated with it. Other times, restricting is more subtle. For example, an individual avoiding a certain food group (gluten, dairy, carbohydrates) in hopes of cutting out calories.
Purging
Purging is a term used when an individual intentionally forces themselves to rid the contents of their stomach. Purging can be attempted in many forms, although forcing oneself to throw up, or unnecessary use of laxatives is common.
Official Diagnostic Criteria For Anorexia Nervosa
Restriction of energy intake relative to requirements leading to significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health.
Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight.
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 denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
Below is a brochure from the National Eating Disorders Association that lays out different eating disorders and their common characteristics.
Google Sites
Report abuse