Eating Disorders

 

Eating disorders are behavioural conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbances in eating patterns, and are associated with distressing thoughts and emotions. They can severely impact one’s physical and mental health, affecting one’s physical, psychological and social function.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder or feel as though food is ruling your life, please contact us.

Types of Eating Disorders

  • Anorexia Nervosa — There are two subtypes of anorexia nervosa:

    • Restricting type — in which individuals lose weight primarily by dieting, fasting or excessively exercising.

    • Binge-eating/purging type — in which persons also engage in intermittent binge eating and/or purging behaviors.

  • Bulimia Nervosa — individuals with bulimia nervosa typically alternate dieting, going for periods eating low calorie “safe foods” and then binge eating on “forbidden” high calorie foods. Binges typically occur at least once weekly and are often followed by what are called "compensatory behaviors" to prevent weight gain.

  • Binge Eating Disorder — as with bulimia nervosa, people with binge eating disorder have episodes where they consume large quantities of food in a brief period, beyond the point of fulness. However, unlike people with bulimia nervosa however, they do not regularly use compensatory behaviors to get rid of the food.

  • Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder — involves a disturbance in eating resulting in persistent failure to meet nutritional needs and extreme picky eating.

  • Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder — this includes eating disorders or disturbances of eating behavior that cause distress and impair family, social or work function but do not fit the other categories listed here.

  • Rumination Disorder — involves the repeated regurgitation and re-chewing of food after eating whereby swallowed food is brought back up into the mouth voluntarily and is re-chewed and re-swallowed or spat out. Rumination disorder can occur in infancy, childhood and adolescence or in adulthood.

Factors that influence eating disorders

Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, racial/ethnic backgrounds, body weights, and genders. Although eating disorders often appear during the teen years or young adulthood, they may also develop during childhood or later in life (40 years and older). Eating disorders often co-occur with other psychological issues including mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance misuse, and/or a history of trauma or post-traumatic stress (PTSD).

Eating disorder symptoms:

Over time, some of the following symptoms may develop related to starvation or purging behaviors:

  • Menstrual periods cease

  • Dizziness or fainting from dehydration

  • Brittle hair/nails

  • Cold intolerance

  • Muscle weakness and wasting

  • Heartburn and reflux (in those who vomit)

  • Severe constipation, bloating and fullness after meals

  • Stress fractures from compulsive exercise as well as bone loss resulting in osteopenia or osteoporosis (thinning of the bones)

  • Depression, irritability, anxiety, poor concentration and fatigue

Whether or not someone is displaying symptoms, it’s important to watch for eating patterns and beliefs that may signal unhealthy behavior, which can include:

  • Repeatedly eating large amounts of sweets or high-fat foods

  • Use of dietary supplements, laxatives or herbal products for weight loss

  • Excessive exercise

  • Calluses on the knuckles from inducing vomiting

  • Problems with loss of tooth enamel that may be a sign of repeated vomiting

  • Leaving during meals to use the toilet

  • Eating much more food in a meal or snack than is considered normal

  • Eating in secret

  • Expressing depression, disgust, shame or guilt about eating habits

  • Skipping meals or making excuses for not eating

  • Adopting an overly restrictive vegetarian diet

  • Excessive focus on healthy eating

  • Making own meals rather than eating what the family eats

  • Withdrawing from normal social activities

  • Persistent worry or complaining about being fat and talk of losing weight

  • Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws

Treating eating disorders

Eating disorders are not a choice. These disorders can affect a person’s physical and mental health. In some cases, they can be life-threatening. With treatment, however, people can recover completely from eating disorders.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is commonly used in eating disorder treatment, especially for bulimia and binge-eating disorder. You learn how to monitor and improve your eating habits and your moods, develop problem-solving skills, and explore healthy ways to cope with stressful situations.

Family-based therapy (FBT). FBT is an evidence-based treatment for children and teenagers with eating disorders. The family is involved in making sure that the child or other family member follows healthy-eating patterns and maintains a healthy weight.

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). is a skills-based therapy that helps people balance acceptance with the natural changes that come with life. DBT-informed treatment integrates DBT skills into individual and/or group therapy. DBT-informed treatment can help you learn skills to recognize emotions and thoughts without acting on them, learn healthy ways to cope with painful or overwhelming emotions, enhance interpersonal relationships, and ultimately achieve your personal goals.

Next Steps

Our psychologists have extensive experience with eating disorders, and can provide counselling both online and in-person. To learn more about eating disorders or to book a free phone consultation, please call us at (780) 860-7338 or fill out our contact form.

Featured
Ellen Klaver
Ellen Klaver

M.Ed., Registered Psychologist, Waitlisting

References

American Psychiatric Assoication. (2023). What are Eating Disorders? Retrieved from American Psychiatric Assoication: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). (2018). Symptoms and Causes. Retrieved from Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/symptoms-causes/

National Eating Disorder Information Center (NEIDC). (2022). What is Anorexia Nervosa? Retrieved from National Eating Disorder Information Center: https://nedic.ca/eating-disorders-treatment/anorexia-nervosa/

National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Eating Disorders: About More Than Food. Retrieved from National Institute of Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/eating-disorders