Abnormal eating customs that involve large or either minor amount of food intake is can be called eating disorders. There are two types of eating disorders: bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Although the causes are not fully comprehended, studies show the fact that this illness affects 3.5 percent of women and 2 percent of men in the United States.
The scientists research cannot say certainly the cause of the eating disorders, but indicates that can be a combination of psychological, biological and environmental causes. There can be a genetic potentiality for eating disorders. Biochemically can be the serotonin, norepinephrine abnormality, an infection or presence of tumor can be involved in the development of eating disorders. The psychiatrist say that cultural influences as the change of hormones during puberty, stress can also affect and influence eating behaviors. In the environmental causes can enter child maltreatment, parental influence and social isolation, as well as cultural pressure that creates a deformed body image and this can lead to eating disorders.
The Bulimia Nervosa is known as a eating unusually large amount of food by frequent and repeated times. The other sign is that this person cannot control him during this time. After the huge amount of food is gone (binge-eating) compensative behavior follows: the use of laxatives or diuretics, or even vomiting. The Bulimia Nervona behavior is characterized as done secretly, followed by the feeling of shame. This repeats several times weekly. These persons present psychological problems like depression, substance abuse or anxiety. Other physical signs of eating disorders, more precisely Bulimia Nervosa are: aching and chronically inflamed throat, kidney problems, dehydration (caused by purging of fluids), swollen gland in the neck, eventual irritation and intestinal pain from laxative abuse.
Eating disorders can be present in other form, like Anorexia Nervosa. This kind of eating disorder is recognized by its symptoms, like: thinning the bones, the skin is dehydrated, dry, slowed pulse and breathing, low blood pressure, weakness. The cause may be the will to maintain an unhealthy weight, coming from a misconception of body image. At women the constant fear of gaining weight can be an other reason for this kind of eating disorder. Most of the people who present these symptoms are loosing weight by extreme diets or excessive exercises, others use vomiting as a method for loosing weight, and the use of laxatives is also common. A typical person with anorexia has the temptation to weight himself very often and portions every food very carefully. Studies reveal the fact that the persons with anorexia have fluid and electrolyte imbalances what can lead to death. Like Bulinia Nervosa, people with anorexia have psychical problems like anxiety, depression, abuse of substance, obsessive behavior.
Eating disorders can be treated as any other disease. Here are some methods of treatment: CBT (as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is based on evidence; Dialectical Behavior Therapy (developed by Linehan, Marsha M.), family therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, art therapy, nutrition counseling, medical nutrition therapy, self help groups.