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In the United States, 7 million women and girls have eating disorders. Eating disorders are less common in men and boys, but they do occur. The three main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Eating disorders are serious problems.
What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are not fads and they are
not diets. They are serious conditions that can lead to severe health problems —
and even death.
Who Gets Eating Disorders?
People of all backgrounds and ages can have
eating disorders. These problems are most common among women and girls. They
most often begin between the ages of 11 and 20 years.
Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia nervosa (also called anorexia),
bulimia nervosa (also called bulimia), and binge-eating disorder are the three
main types of eating disorders.
Anorexia Nervosa
A person with anorexia nervosa diets to extremes
because she has a distorted body image. This means she feels she is too fat even
when she is not. Some women with anorexia eat large amounts of foods high in fat
and calories and then purge themselves by vomiting or taking laxatives. They
also may exercise to extremes.
Bulimia Nervosa
People with bulimia nervosa binge (eat large
amounts of food in a short time). They then purge the excess calories by:
· Using laxatives, diuretics (water pills), or emetics (pills that cause vomiting)
· Fasting
· Exercising to extremes
Bulimia is harder than anorexia to detect. This is because the person's weight often is normal or just above normal.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating (also called compulsive eating)
may be the most common of the eating disorders. About two out of every 100
American adults have this disorder. Slightly more women than men have it.
Binge eating involves eating large amounts of food. In this way, it is like bulimia. Binge eaters do not purge after binging, though.
Binge eaters usually become overweight or obese. In fact, up to 40 percent of obese people may be binge eaters.
Getting Help
There is treatment for eating disorders. The first step
to overcoming an eating disorder is to know that a problem exists and that help
is needed.
People with eating disorders may become angry or defensive when someone tries to help.
Ask for help if you believe that you, a family member, or a friend has an eating disorder.
Finally …
Eating disorders affect the health and well-being of many
women. If not treated, eating disorders can lead to serious social, emotional,
and medical problems — sometimes death.
This excerpt from ACOG's Patient Education Pamphlet is provided for your information. It is not medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for visiting your doctor. If you need medical care, have any questions, or wish to receive the full text of this Patient Education Pamphlet, please contact your obstetrician-gynecologist.