The term eating disorder refers to the health problems due to irregular or bad eating habits. Eating disorders have emerged as a serious health problem and have been escalating rapidly, especially among the adolescents. Eating disorders are curable health problems and can coexist simultaneously along with other illnesses like depression, anxiety and other psychological problems. The symptoms can be life threatening in case of no treatment. A study report suggests that those who are suffering with anorexia nervosa are 18 times vulnerable to early death in comparison to other people of similar circumstances. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are some very ordinarily known names of eating disorders.
American psychiatric association recognizes eating disorders as serious psychological issue. These disorders lead to other psychological issues and person suffering from any of these disorders are usually affected with other mental problems. A research report suggests that the girls who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are more prone to an eating disorder. Another research shows that women having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are vulnerable to anorexia nervosa. Another study suggests that the chances are bigger of having bulimia nervosa in foster females. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder and the people who are affected with this disorder believe that they are overweight though it is clearly visible that they are underweight. People suffering from bulimia nervosa have a normal weight though some suffer from overweight. The affected people are afraid of gaining weight and frantically try to reduce their weight. A person suffering from Binge eating disorder has no control over his consumption habits and usually a person affected with binge eating disorder is overweight.
References
Abraham, S. (2008). Eating Disorders. New York: Oxford University Press.
Pamela K. Keel and Pat Levitt. (2006). Eating Disorders. New York: Infobase Publishing.
