Identify common nutrition inadequacies
that occur during improper eating.
List two things a parent can do to avoid
or alter an eating disorder.
First name
Last name
Birthday of name entered above
Activity 1:
List
some common symptoms of eating disorders.
1.
2.
3.
What is an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders are serious emotional and physical problems that can
have life-threatening consequences. As estimated one million or more
Americans suffer from Eating Disorders.
Eating disorders range from unhealthy dieting and preoccupation with
body size to life-threatening disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia
nervosa).
People with eating disorders often use food and the control of food
in an attempt to compensate for feelings and emotions that may otherwise
seem over-whelming. For some, dieting, bingeing, and purging may begin
as a way to cope with painful emotions and to feel in control of one's life,
but ultimately, these behaviors will damage a person's physical and
emotional health, self esteem, and sense of competence and control.
Eating disorders have been observed in both sexes and across socioeconomic
and racial/ethnic groups.
Types of Eating
Disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa is one type of eating
disorder. It is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight
loss. Individuals with this disorder are usually obsessed with food,
weight and thinness. Even after dramatic weight loss, people suffering
from anorexia deny their hunger and refuse to eat. Because they don't
receive adequate calories and nutrients, their bodies slowly start to waste
away.
Symptoms include:
Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal
weight for height, body type, age, and activity level
Intense fear of weight gain or being "fat"
Feeling "fat" or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
Loss of menstrual periods
Extreme concern with body weight and shape
Health consequences of Anorexia Nervosa:
Abnormally slow heart rate
Low blood pressure
Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry,
brittle bones
Muscle loss and weakness
Severe dehydration, which can lead to kidney failure
Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness
Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common
Hair growth all over the body, including the face, called languo.
Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by a
secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging. Bulimia includes eating
large amounts of food--more than most people would eat in one meal--in short
periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting,
laxative abuse, or over-exercising.
Symptoms include:
Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point
of comfortable fullness
Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse
of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
Frequent dieting
Extreme concern with body weight and shape
Health consequences of Bulimia Nervosa:
Dehydration
Organ damage
Internal bleeding from the stress of vomiting
Tooth decay from acids
Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of
laxative abuse.
Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas
leading the severe pain)
Binge Eating Disorder (also known as
COMPULSIVE OVEREATING) is characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled,
impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full.
While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and
often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat
compulsively may struggle with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can
contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating. Body weight may vary
from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
Health Consequences of Binge Eating Disorder:
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
Heart disease as a result of elevated triglyceride levels
Diabetes
Gallbadder disease
Other eating disorders can include some combination of the signs and
symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. While these
behaviors may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder,
they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally draining. All eating
disorders require professional help.
Eating disorders are more than just food problems. One's whole life
gets wrapped in the eating issue: work, school, family, and emotions to name a
few.
Activity
2:
1.
Which is not a symptom of anorexia nervosa?
Loss of menstrual periods
Binging and
purging
Extreme concern with body weight and
shape
2.
Which of the following eating disorders can lead to tooth decay?
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder
3.
List some health consequences of any eating disorder.
1.
2.
Prevalence of Eating
The prevalence of eating disorders is not reported due to the
secretiveness and shame associated with eating disorders. Statistics of
dieting, however, shows great concern for eating disorders. For example,
45% of women and 25%
of men are on a diet on any given day. 51% of
9 and 10 year-old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet.
And 35% of dieters progress to pathological
dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial
or full-syndrome eating disorders.
Nutritional Adequacy
and Medial Complications
Following are the nutrition inadequacies commonly seen in children and
adolescents with eating disorders:
Energy. Low energy intake, sometimes less
than 500 calories per day, is a hallmark of anorexia nervosa.
Protein. Protein intake is often low
enough to result in clinical signs of protein deficiency in children and
adolescents with restrictive types of eating disorders. Meat, poultry, fish,
eggs, and dairy products are good sources of protein that are sometimes
avoided by children and adolescents with eating disorders.
Calcium. Because children and adolescents
with eating disorders typically have insufficient dietary calcium intake,
which can cause bone mineral loss, it is essential to maximize intake of milk,
yogurt, and other dairy products, and to use calcium supplements if needed.
Zinc. When protein intake is low, zinc
intake is usually limited as well. It is especially important to promote zinc-
and protein-rich foods (e.g., milk, meat, whole grains) because of zinc's role
in taste dysfunction and appetite.
Vitamin B12. Intake of vitamin B12 may be
a concern only in those with restrictive eating practices who are also strict
vegetarians and who may not consume enough dairy products or eggs to obtain
the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin B12.
What parents can
do:
Consider your thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors toward your own
body.
Make an effort to maintain positive, healthy attitudes & behaviors.
Children learn from the things you say and do!
Learn about and discuss with your sons and daughters (a) the dangers
of trying to alter one’s body shape through dieting, (b) the value of
moderate exercise for health, and (c) the importance of eating a variety of
foods in well-balanced meals consumed at least three times a day.
Avoid categorizing foods into "good/safe/no-fat or low-fat" vs.
"bad/dangerous/ fattening."
Be a good role model in regard to sensible eating, exercise, and
self-acceptance.
Make a commitment not to avoid activities (such as swimming,
sunbathing, dancing, etc.) simply because they call attention to your weight
and shape. Refuse to wear clothes that are uncomfortable or that you don’t
like but wear simply because they divert attention from your weight or
shape.
Practice taking people seriously for what they say, feel, and do, not
for how slender or "well put together" they appear.
Help children appreciate and resist the ways in which television,
magazines, and other media distort the true diversity of human body types
and imply that a slender body means power, excitement, popularity, or
perfection.
Do whatever you can to promote the self-esteem and self-respect of
all of your children in intellectual, athletic, and social endeavors. Give
boys and girls the same opportunities and encouragement. Be careful not to
suggest that females are less important than males, e.g., by exempting males
from housework or childcare. A well-rounded sense of self and solid
self-esteem are perhaps the best antidotes to dieting and disordered eating.
Now let's review!
Activity 3:
1. Protein can be
found in foods such as meat, fish, poultry, milk, yogurt and cheese.
True
False
2. Most individuals
with eating disorders are very open and willing to discuss their eating
habits.
True
False
3. Zinc, calcium,
vitamin B12, and protein intake are limited in the diet of one with an
eating disorder.
True
False
4.
List two things a parent can do to avoid or alter an eating disorder.
Which WIC Office do you go to?
Bullhead City
Kingman
Lake Havasu City
Where
are you taking today's lesson?
You have completed the lesson on “Eating Disorders”.If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail one of our
nutritionists.We’ll be glad
to answer any of your questions.
* If you have an
extra minute, please fill out our survey on the WIC home page (where you chose
this class) so we can better serve you. Thank You.
Answers:
Activity 1:
Symptoms of Eating Disorders
include but are not limited to:
Refusal to maintain body weight at or
above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity
level
Intense fear of weight gain or being
"fat"
Feeling "fat" or overweight despite
dramatic weight loss
Loss of menstrual periods
Extreme concern with body weight and
shape
Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point
of comfortable fullness
Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse
of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
Frequent dieting
Extreme concern with body weight and shape
Activity 2:
1
Abnormally slow heart rate
Low blood pressure
Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry,
brittle bones
Muscle loss and weakness
Severe dehydration, which can lead to kidney failure.
Activity 3:
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. Consider your thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors toward your own
body.
Make an effort to maintain positive, healthy attitudes & behaviors.
Children learn from the things you say and do!
