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Eating Disorders

Approximately 20,000 individuals living within the Western New York service region have an eating disorder. Approximately 90% of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) in clinics are female. AN is the third most chronic condition among adolescent girls However, community-based studies have shown a less marked female predominance with a female:male ratio for cases of AN and BN about 6:1. Also, men with binge eating disorder (BED) experience this disorder at a rate almost equal to women, and men have experienced muscle dysmorphia ("reverse anorexia") at increasing rates. Muscle dysmorphia involves a compulsive pursuit of increased muscle mass. Many men suffer from body image dissatisfaction and distortion, with 40% of men wanting to lose weight, 40% wanting to gain weight, and all of them wanting to gain muscle.

Facts/Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder:

  • Preoccupation with body weight and size
  • Significant loss in body weight that cannot be attributed to a medical condition
  • Attempt to hide weight loss
  • Thoughts of losing control and feelings of guilt and self loathing after eating. Binge eating followed by some compensatory behavior (self-induced vomiting, laxatives use and/or diuretic [water pills] use).
  • Excessive exercising or exercising after eating or in anticipation of eating.
  • Fainting or feeling lightheaded when changing positions (from standing to sitting).
  • Dental reports of excessive erosion of enamel on the front teeth.
  • Swelling of the salivary glands.
  • Muscle cramping, especially in the extremities
  • Intense fear of gaining weight.

Medical Complications of an Eating Disorder:

  • Fluid and/or electrolyte imbalance.
  • Dehydration and edema (retention of fluids).
  • Bradycardia (resting heart rate under 60 beats per minute) or arrhythmias (irregular heart rate).
  • Low blood pressure and/or unstable blood pressure.
  • Cardiac failure (sudden death).
  • Cerebral atrophy (shrinking of cerebral cortex).
  • Diminished capacity to concentrate and to think clearly.
  • Gastrointestinal disturbances, constipation, spontaneous regurgitation).
  • Osteoporosis and/or stunting of growth in adolescents.
  • Kidney damage.

Self Assessment for an Eating Disorder

  1. Do you constantly worry about your weight and ask for reassurance from others that you are not fat? Do you do this to the point that others may be frustrated with you?
  2. Do you see yourself as fat even though others tell you that you are thin or too thin?
  3. Are you looking at foods in terms of safe vs. unsafe and are you avoiding the unsafe foods?
  4. Are you deliberately restricting your food intake to the point where you have lost a significant amount of weight?
  5. Do you find yourself in a pattern of restricting food intake followed by periods of overeating or eating large quantities and feeling guilty as a result?
  6. Do you feel emotionally uncomfortable after eating to the point where you feel compelled to do something about it?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you may have an eating disorder. Consult your physician or a behavioral health professional.

Eating Disorders are not defined solely by weight. They may occur in people who can be normal weight, over weight, or under weight.