Author: Janae Meyers, Vice President- [email protected]
Today kicks off Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which will run from February 23rd to March 1st. This year’s theme is “I Had No Idea” in order to highlight and raise awareness about the significant impact that eating disorders have on individuals, families, friends, and communities across the nation.
There are three categories of eating disorders, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The first is anorexia nervosa, which is characterized by restriction of food intake resulting in a significantly low body weight expected for one’s age, sex, and height, intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted view of themselves and their condition. Bulimia nervosa is the second category, characterized by binge eating (eating more than a person of similar characteristics would eat under similar circumstances and having a lack of self-control regarding eating during the episode) followed by vomiting (APA, 2013). The third category, Binge Eating Disorder, was recently added by the APA when it published the DSM-5 in 2013. It is marked by the same bingeing behaviors as bulimia without any type of purging behaviors following binge eating episodes.
Current estimates pinpoint the prevalence rate of eating disorders at 4%, which means that eating disorders are more common than green eyes (only 2% of the US population has green eyes) (NEDA, 2013). However, the prevalence of clinical eating disorders is estimated to be much higher-up to 20% among females and 10% among males- in the college population (Bryant, et al, 2012). This does not include subclinical eating disorders, which are characterized by abnormal eating behaviors, including restrictive eating practices such as skipping meals and fasting. It is likely that the actual prevalence is higher than these estimates; given the secretive nature of this type of illness, many cases go unreported and untreated.
Raising awareness about eating disorders is incredibly important. If you or someone you know struggles with this issue, it is absolutely critical to seek help! If untreated, the consequences are severe; eating disorders have the highest rates of mortality among all mental illnesses (Marquez, 2008). Additionally, the nonfatal health consequences of eating disorders include: muscle wasting, heart damage, and multi-organ failure. If you are located on a college campus, your student health center or student wellness office has resources to assist you (Purdue students), and there are resource links at the bottom of this post.
Let’s focus on raising awareness and decreasing the stigma about eating disorders so nobody can say “I didn’t know!”
Resources for those seeking help or more information:
National Eating Disorders Organization
National Eating Disorders Resource Links
Eating Disorders Resource Center
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Bryant, Judith, et al. (2012). “College Students’ Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to
Alcohol Consumption.” Journal of American College Health, 60(5):350-356.
DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2011.630702.
Marquez, S. (2008). “Eating disorders in sports. Risk factors, health consequences, treatment and
prevention.” Nutrticion Hospitalaria, 23(3), 183-190
National Eating Disorders Awareness Organization. (2013). “In the Know.” Retrieved from:
http://nedawareness.org/quiz
Today kicks off Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which will run from February 23rd to March 1st. This year’s theme is “I Had No Idea” in order to highlight and raise awareness about the significant impact that eating disorders have on individuals, families, friends, and communities across the nation.
There are three categories of eating disorders, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The first is anorexia nervosa, which is characterized by restriction of food intake resulting in a significantly low body weight expected for one’s age, sex, and height, intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted view of themselves and their condition. Bulimia nervosa is the second category, characterized by binge eating (eating more than a person of similar characteristics would eat under similar circumstances and having a lack of self-control regarding eating during the episode) followed by vomiting (APA, 2013). The third category, Binge Eating Disorder, was recently added by the APA when it published the DSM-5 in 2013. It is marked by the same bingeing behaviors as bulimia without any type of purging behaviors following binge eating episodes.
Current estimates pinpoint the prevalence rate of eating disorders at 4%, which means that eating disorders are more common than green eyes (only 2% of the US population has green eyes) (NEDA, 2013). However, the prevalence of clinical eating disorders is estimated to be much higher-up to 20% among females and 10% among males- in the college population (Bryant, et al, 2012). This does not include subclinical eating disorders, which are characterized by abnormal eating behaviors, including restrictive eating practices such as skipping meals and fasting. It is likely that the actual prevalence is higher than these estimates; given the secretive nature of this type of illness, many cases go unreported and untreated.
Raising awareness about eating disorders is incredibly important. If you or someone you know struggles with this issue, it is absolutely critical to seek help! If untreated, the consequences are severe; eating disorders have the highest rates of mortality among all mental illnesses (Marquez, 2008). Additionally, the nonfatal health consequences of eating disorders include: muscle wasting, heart damage, and multi-organ failure. If you are located on a college campus, your student health center or student wellness office has resources to assist you (Purdue students), and there are resource links at the bottom of this post.
Let’s focus on raising awareness and decreasing the stigma about eating disorders so nobody can say “I didn’t know!”
Resources for those seeking help or more information:
National Eating Disorders Organization
National Eating Disorders Resource Links
Eating Disorders Resource Center
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Bryant, Judith, et al. (2012). “College Students’ Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to
Alcohol Consumption.” Journal of American College Health, 60(5):350-356.
DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2011.630702.
Marquez, S. (2008). “Eating disorders in sports. Risk factors, health consequences, treatment and
prevention.” Nutrticion Hospitalaria, 23(3), 183-190
National Eating Disorders Awareness Organization. (2013). “In the Know.” Retrieved from:
http://nedawareness.org/quiz