Fact sheet about eating disorders
An eating disorder is a mental illness which can lead to serious psychological and physical consequenses. It involves an all-consuming preoccupation with body shape, weight, eating, and leads to behaviours such as restriction of food, purging or overexercise. Eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are caused by a range of factors, including social pressures, psychological vulnerabilities and biological predisposition.
Anorexia Nervosa is characterised by minimal food intake and behaviours such as purging and overexercise, resulting in a low body weight. Paradoxically sufferers of Anorexia Nervosa experience their emaciated bodies as fat.
Bulimia Nervosa is characterised by frequent consumption of a large quantity of food (binge), followed by compensatory behaviours such as vomiting and laxative misuse. A large percentage of eating disorders are termed as Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) as they do not meet specific diagnostic criteria. People with EDNOS still suffer significant morbidity and do require professional help.
It is estimated that one in 20 Australian women will suffer from an eating disorder during her life. Anorexia Nervosa normally occurs in one per cent of the young adult female population with an onset between 14-18 years old. Bulimia Nervosa occurs in two to four per cent of young females between 16-18 years but can also start much later. Females make up 90 per cent of the patients. Patients will often meet the criteria for different eating disorders over the course of their illness.
Eating disorders are not lifestyle choices and have amongst the highest rates of mortality and mobidity within the illness. It is important to seek professional help and support as soon as possible as early intervention improves the chance of a shorter recovery time.
Physical consequences of eating disorders
- low blood pressure and pulse, heart failure
- kidney failure
- osteoporosis
- anaemia
- bowel obstruction
- dental erosion
- infertility and loss of menstrual cycle.
Psychological consequences of eating disorders
- dissatisfaction with body
- disturbance in the way body shape is experienced
- obsessive thoughts about shape, weight, eating
- urges to engage in compensatory behaviours such as exercise, vomiting and laxative misuse
- depression, irritability and anxiety
- self-harm, suicidal thoughts and attempts
- inability to function in usual roles
- social isolation.
