Eating Disorders
By: Grant Gillard
Types of Eating Disorders
- Anorexia nervosa- an eating disorder characterized by starving oneself in fear of becoming overweight.
- Bulimia- an eating disorder characterized by continuous eating binges followed by purging.
- Binge eating- an eating disorder characterized by repeated episodes of uncontrolled eating of large amounts of food.
Effects
Anorexia nervosa
About half of all anorexics have low white-blood-cell counts, and about a third are anemic. Both conditions can lower the immune system's resistance to disease, leaving a person vulnerable to infections.
Bulimia
Can damage the entire digestive system and purging behaviors can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions. The esophagus becomes inflamed and possible rupture can occur. Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids is likely to occur as well.
Binge eating
Over time, compulsive binging usually leads to obesity which can cause many health complications, including: Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, certain types of cancer, gastrointestinal problems and heart disease.