Eating disorders are medically and psychologically serious and have life-threatening risk for both females and males. In fact it has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. Risk factors for developing an eating disorder include low self-esteem, difficulty expressing negative emotions, difficulty resolving conflict, being perfectionistic, having depression and anxiety, family history.

Individuals with eating disorders have very high rates of comorbid psychiatric conditions.

There are four major eating disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating and Eating Disorder NOS. Our treatment team applies the DSM-IV-R Criteria in making our diagnosis.

General Signs of Anorexia Nervosa

• Weight is less than normal range for age/height
• Excessive exercising
• Restrictive and unusual eating rituals
• Preoccupation with food, focused on numbers
• Intense fear of becoming fat, feeling “fat” despite excessive weight loss
• Drive for thinness
• Perfectionistic
• Distorted body image, extreme concern with weight and shape
• Rigid, inflexible thinking/ black or white thinking/all or nothing thinking
• Risk avoidant

Medical complications: Osteoporosis/osteopenia, muscle loss, severe dehydration, bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension, headaches, fainting/dizziness, constipation, lanugo, overall weakness/fatigue, loss of menses, sensitivity to cold, comorbid psychiatric disorders

General Signs of Bulimia Nervosa

• Weight is within normal range for age/height
• Intense fear of becoming fat
• Bingeing
• Self-induced vomiting
• Laxative &/or diuretic abuse, excessive exercise, fasting
• Performance and appearance oriented
• Weight fluctuations, frequent dieting, extreme concern with weight and shape
• Hoarding and/or hiding food
• Impulsiveness
• Engages in risk behaviors such as substance abuse and sexual promiscuity

Medical complications:
Electrolyte imbalances, potassium and sodium deficiencies, bradycardia, irregular heartbeats, orthostatic hypotension, dehydration, constipation, bloating/abdominal pain, decreased bowel motility, peptic ulcers, sore throat, stained/discolored teeth, teeth enamel damage, comorbid psychiatric disorders

Signs of Binge Eating Disorder/Compulsive Overeating

• Weight is more than normal range for age/height
• Recurrent episodes of bingeing
• Sense of lack of control during binge
• Hoarding and/or hiding food
• Eating alone
• Eating until uncomfortably full
• Feelings of disgust, guilt, shame, depression after overeating
• Binges to "numb" feelings

Medical complications:
High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, diabetes, leg and joint pain, insomnia, comorbid psychiatric disorders

Signs of Eating Disorder NOS

Combination of the signs and symptoms for anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder, does not “fit” full diagnostic criteria for either anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder. It is important to aggressively treat individuals who have traits of eating disorders but who do not meet the full criteria for anorexia and bulimia. (Footnote: American Family Physician, January 15, 2003 issue)

Medical complications:
Combination of many of the complications for anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder, comorbid psychiatric disorders