APA Supports National Eating Disorders Awareness Week February 26 - March 4, 2006

Main Category: Eating Disorders
Also Included In: Mental Health;  Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 25 Feb 2006 - 15:00 PDT

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National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (NEDAW), a nationwide observance sponsored by the National Eating Disorders Association, provides information about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of eating disorders. NEDAW will be observed from Sunday, February 26 through Saturday, March 4, 2006.

Eating disorders are illnesses in which the victims suffer severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. Those suffering from eating disorders typically become obsessed with food and their body weight as well. Eating disorders affect several million people at any given time, most often women between the ages of 12 and 35. There are two main types of eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa; a third disorder, binge eating disorder, is still being examined.

Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed when patients weigh at least 15 percent less than the normal healthy weight expected for their height. People with anorexia nervosa don't maintain a normal weight because they refuse to eat enough, often exercise obsessively, and sometimes force themselves to vomit or use laxatives to lose weight.

Patients with bulimia nervosa binge eat frequently, and during these times sufferers may eat an astounding amount of food in a short time, often consuming thousands and thousands of calories in foods that are high in sugars, carbohydrates, and fat. They often eat very rapidly, sometimes simply gulping down the food without even tasting it. During an eating binge sufferers feel out of control. After a binge, the person feels compelled to purge all that they ate.

In many cases, eating disorders occur together with other psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and alcohol and drug abuse problems. New evidence suggests that heredity may play a part in why certain people develop eating disorders, but these disorders also afflict many people who have no prior family history.

Without treatment of both the emotional and physical symptoms of these disorders, malnutrition, heart problems, and other potentially fatal conditions can result. However, with proper medical care, those suffering from eating disorders can resume suitable eating habits, and return to better emotional and psychological health.

For more information on eating disorders, visit APA's consumer information Web site http://www.HealthyMinds.org to review public information brochures and physician commentary on eating disorders or visit the National Eating Disorders Association Web site at http://www.NationalEatingDisorders.org.

About the American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society whose more than 36,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses including substance use disorders.

Visit the APA at http://www.psych.org and http://www.healthyminds.org.

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