Eating disorder is such a very dangerous disorder. It gives off a lot of medical complexes. These medical complications are the following: heart rate going slow, irregular beating of your heart, heart, skin turning yellow, taste buds getting impaired, hypoglycemia, dehydration, tetanus, anemia, vulnerability to bleeding, decalcification, tooth decay, amenorrhea, sexual interest decreases, impotence, swelling of the salivary gland, acute expansion of the stomach, constipation, weakness, and hypothermia. I do not have to explain more why it is really dangerous, right?
Eating disorder has two types. These two type of eating disorders are called anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa Anorexia nervosa is taking out more weight by means of not eating or eating a very little amount for very extended periods of time. Bulimia nervosa is losing weight by means of controlled eating also called binging. To be diagnosed of having an eating disorder, one should meet a certain criteria.
According to the latest version of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, to be diagnosed of having anorexia nervosa; you need to meet this criterion:
1. The refusal to preserve body weight at or exceeding a minimally normal weight for age and height.
2. Having an deep dread of gaining weight or becoming fat although being obviously underweight.
3. Distortions in the perception of one’s body weight or shape, unnecessary power of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the present low body weight.
4. For females who have reached menarche, the lack of at least three successive menstrual cycles.
The criterions to meet to be diagnosed of having bulimia nervosa are the following:
1. Having recurring occurrences of binge eating that characterizes the following:
a. Eating a quantity of food in a discrete period of time that is definitely larger than most people would consume.
b. In this discrete period, there is a lack of control over eating.
2. Having recurrent inappropriate behaviors in putting off weight increase such as self- induced vomiting; misusing of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, and other medications to induce vomiting; fasting, and excessive exercise.
3. The typical occurrence of binge eating and inappropriate purging behaviors is at least twice a week for three months.
4. In self-evaluation, there is the influence of body shape and weight.
Luckily, important progress for eating disorder treatment has been made in the recent years. There are now a number ways for one to recover from the bad effects eating disorder brings. One of the most effective eating disorder treatments is the use of medications. In lessening binging and vomiting, tricyclic antidepressants are being used. There are also extra medications such as monoamine oxidase and fluoxetine that are similar to the effects the tricyclic antidepressants brings. Although on an important side, these drugs have addictive substances. The use of these drugs can create dependency which can lead to addiction.
Another important and effective way to treat eating disorders is getting the patient into an eating disorder rehab centers. Eating disorder rehab centers are there to offer an institutionalized manner of treatment. The patient will be held in in a rehab centers with fellow individuals who also has an eating disorder. The assurance of recovery is present because the physician can monitor and control the patient’s environment.
Going into a rehab is one of the most important and effective way as a treatment for eating disorder.