DIETING, BODY IMAGE AND EATING DISORDERS

An eating disorder is a serious mental illness that if not treated can result in significant psychiatric and medical consequences. There are four different types of eating disorders with different characteristics, causes and outcomes. Anorexia nervosa which affects one in a hundred adolescent girls is perhaps the best known eating disorder and was described in the medical literature more than a century ago. Those with bulimia nervosa usually binge on large amounts of food and then compensate by inducing vomiting, taking large amounts of laxative tablets or over-exercising. Many individuals fail to meet all the diagnostic criteria for either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa or who’s illness may have been detected early. They are then given the diagnosis of an “eating disorder not otherwise specified”. Finally there are a group of individuals who engage in binge-eating but do not follow such episodes with compensatory behaviors such as self induced vomiting, laxative abuse or over-exercise. As a result, they continue to gain weight and become obese often enveloping dire medical complications such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. They are given the diagnosis of binge eating disorder or BED. This lecture will focus on the most serious of all eating disorders, anorexia nervosa. Cutting edge research on the neurobiology of this disorder will be presented and how this relates to treatment. There can be no doubt that early identification and intervention is crucial. Early warning signs will be identified as well as how best to engage both the sufferer and their family in ongoing management.