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Dr. Laura Riss discusses Eating Disorders.
Eating Disorders
Are you or someone you know preoccupied with dieting,
weight, or body size? Do you plan your day around
eating or not eating? Do you find yourself
thinking about food, calories, and weight control
throughout most of the day? Do you restrict your
diet in order to lose weight or avoid gaining weight?
Do you ever experience episodes of overeating that feel
beyond your control? Have you ever used laxatives
or vomiting to get rid of food due to fear of weight
gain? These are just a few symptoms of eating
disorders. Eating disorders include extreme
emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight,
food, and body image. Although, they are
experienced by both women and men, they occur more
frequently in women. All are serious emotional and
physical problems that can have life-threatening
consequences so it is very important to contact a mental
health professional if you or someone you know
experience any of the following symptoms.
Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by severe
caloric restriction and excessive weight loss or refusal
to gain weight.
Symptoms include:
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extreme fear of weight gain or becoming "fat"
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distorted body image (believing they are overweight
despite their thin or emaciated frame)
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loss of menstrual cycle
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may be active and energetic despite low food intake
Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by cycles of
bingeing and purging.
Symptoms include:
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episodes of consuming a significantly increased
amount of food in a short period of time
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feeling out of control during a binge and eating
beyond the point of being comfortably full
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purging, or getting rid of food, by self-induced
vomiting, use of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics,
excessive exercise, fasting after bingeing or even
after regular meals or snacks
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preoccupation with body weight and shape
Compulsive Overeating or Binge Eating Disorder
Symptoms include:
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periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous
eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full
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may sporadically diet or fast
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may eat excessively even when they are not hungry
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may overeat in response to emotional distress
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