Eating Disorders

From Transsexual Support

Contents

[edit] Overview

An eating disorder is a complex compulsion to eat in a way which disturbs physical and mental health. The eating may be excessive (compulsive over-eating); too limited (restricting); may include normal eating punctuated with episodes of purging; may include cycles of binging and purging; or may encompass the ingesting of non-foods. The most heard about eating disorders are Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa. The most widely and rapidly spreading eating disorder is compulsive overeating or Binge eating disorder. These are also the three most common eating disorders. All three have severe consequences to a person's immediate and long-term health and can cause death. There are numerous theories as to the causes and mechanisms leading to eating disorders.

Environmental factors have a large influence on developing eating disorders but more research is being performed on hormonal imbalances, brain lesions and their effects on eating disorders. Research has shown that many people who suffer from an eating disorder are highly correlated with having depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Eating disorders are characterized by an abnormal obsession with food and weight. Eating disorders are much more noticed in women than in men. This can be attributed to the fact that society is seen to put an emphasis on women to be thin, and men to be 'bulked up'. This can lead to pressure on women to be 'picture perfect', and an eating disorder prevails as a result of stress of not being able to reach unattainable goals related to this 'picture perfect' ideal.

Types of eating disorders include:

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There are more links available via the Joy Project here: http://www.joyproject.org/whatised/links.html

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