Question 1

what causes eating disorders?

Accepted Answer

Multiple stressors: Some likely causes are; sexual abuse, dysfunctional families full of ridicule regarding weight, size and eating habits, social pressures at school, home or organized groups one attends. Also medical problems affecting appearance, motor functions, speech or hearing. Our culture of thinness in the U.S. Is harmful. Clearly genetics has a role as well in "setting the table" for eating disorders.

Question 2

can men have eating disorders?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Although eating disorders are much more common in young women, they can occur in men as well. If you want to exclude plain old obesity as an eating disorder, of course they are common in both but i assume you are talking about bulemia and anorexia nervosa.

Question 3

how are eating disorders defined?

Accepted Answer

Disability: The definition of a disorder is a condition that interferes with "normal function." a bit of fortune cookie wisdom that i like is "you are what you think about most of the time." by this definition, an eating disorder is defined simply by the fact that someone is always pre-occupied by their diet. Medically, though, the definition involves measurable adverse effects on the person's health.

Question 4

could eating disorders be inherited?

Accepted Answer

Probably not: Inherited, but it can be a learned behavior. If your parent had an eating disorder, you would be exposed to their eating habits and your relationship with food could be modeled after what you observed growing up and what your parent taught you about food, body image, etc.

Question 5

who is at risk for eating disorders?

Accepted Answer

Several groups are.: Folks with depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders & obsessive compulsive disorders all can have issues of eating too much, too little or eating only a specific kind of food. The more direct and obvious groups are those with anorexia, bulimia or pica. Other eating disorders may come from endocrine or other medical abnormalities - thyroid, diabetes and more.

Question 6

what are examples of eating disorders?

Accepted Answer

Anorexia & Bulimia: Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders unless you consider obesity and eating disorder.

Question 7

how is it that eating disorders start?

Accepted Answer

Rewarding: At some point, all maladaptive behavior that is maintained was reinforced/rewarded.  Be it a reward of removing something painful (e..G, feeling out of control & exerting control not eating; removing guilt from binging through purging) or adding something pleasurable (e.g., receive complements for loss of weight).  Nearly all behavior results from genetics + environment + experience + reward.

Question 8

what understanding of eating disorders?

Accepted Answer

Linformation search: There are many organizations that help people with eating disorders and support professionals who work with these patients. Try the organization anorexia nervosa and associated disorders, www.Anad.Org as a place to start.

Question 9

are eating disorders a recent phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

No: Has been there for years, but recently we are having more awareness about and health care providers are screening for it more.

Question 10

what are early symptoms of eating disorders?

Accepted Answer

Preoccupation: Eating disorders share a preoccupation with food, either consuming, restricting or purging it.

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