Addiction and Eating Disorders

Samantha Callahan, Department of Psychology, Lindenwood University; Danielle Patrick, Department of Psychology, Lindenwood University; Sara Roderick, Department of Psychology, Lindenwood University; Kahla Stygar, Department of Psychology, Lindenwood University.

The two most common eating disorders are bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Both disorders, primarily affect young women, therefore the majority of the research on eating disorders has been done with women subjects. The onset of bulimia is between adolescence and early adulthood while the onset of anorexia is between early and late adolescence. Not only is the onset different but the disorders are unique. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by loss of control over eating which leads to food binges. These episodes are interspersed with episodes of purging, such as vomiting or laxative abuse, to keep weight down. The goal of anorexia is also to keep weight down , but to a

Eating disorders have similar attributes to addictions and impulse control disorders as they have the two components of cravings and compulsivity. Eating disorders display the attribute of cravings when it comes to the craving to obtain food or even purge food. Compulsivity is also seen when people compulsively eat until they feel sick. These attributes are easy to see within the diagnoses of binge eating. Binge eating involves eating an abnormally large amount of food in a small amount of time. This can be a craving for those with the disorder and they find themselves compulsively eating until they are awfully full. The attributes of cravings and compulsivity are also seen within other addictions and impulse control disorders as they

Purging Disorder is characterized by recurrent purging (self -induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas) to control weight or shape in the absence of binge eating episodes. (Forney, Haedt-Matt, & Keel, 2014) There are many behaviors associated with purging disorder such as binge eating which leads to loss of control, or overeating in anorexia nervosa. (Goldschmidt et al., 2015) Sociocultural and psychiatric factors are also believed to be important in the subject of weight concerns, dieting, and unhealthy weight control practices. (Simone et al., 1996; Symth et al., 2008)

Addiction is more of a condition than a disease, and can be considered to be a behavioral disorder that stems from personal choice. Addiction is a controversial issue, and many people debate on whether addiction is seen as a disease or a personal choice. There has been many studies that have proven addiction to be a disease that stems from personal choice. Addiction is a chronic brain disease that causes habitual drug use ( Drug abuse, 2012). Over time the brain changes, and the person who is addicted loses control over themselves, resulting in excessive behaviors. Addiction is characterized by the, inability to consistently withdraw, impairment in behavioral control, craving for drugs or rewarding experiences, reduced recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and personal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response (American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2015). Out of all the possible things that people tend to be addicted to, drug addiction is the most common addiction that is known.

When a person continues to use regardless of having continual or periodic social or interpersonal problems caused or intensified by the effects of its use important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of use of the substance. Use of the substance is continued even though there is knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or worsened by the substance (“The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction: The Basics”).

Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too

Another issue that seems to be prevalent is the distinction between an eating disorder and disordered eating. These two are frequently misunderstood and used out of context. Disordered eating is almost the same thing as an eating disorder with a few differences. Someone who suffers from disordered eating is someone who does the same things as someone who suffers from an actual diagnosed eating disorder but with less frequently. An example of this would be purging after eating an excessive amount of food. Those who suffer from disordered eating often times have a history of depression or anxiety.

Eating disorders are serious disorders that can be life damaging. Eating disorders affect five percent of women and one percent of men in the United States. Reports show that five to ten percent of women who have an eating disorder will die within ten years of having the disease. People need to be taught to be more aware of the dangerous effects of eating disorders.

This is topic that really hits home for myself, since I am sixteen years into my recovery from anorexia nervosa (AN) . As a future counselor, eating disorder treatment is also the field I would like to specialize in, given my experience with anorexic, binge eating, and purging behaviors. Diagnosed in my early twenties with AN, I experienced hospitalizations due to low weight, amenorrhea, laxative abuse, as well as binging and purging. Although my relationship with food continues to be a struggle to this day, I have maintained a healthy weight for many years and understand that I will always need to monitor my behaviors in order to remain healthy. Much like an alcoholic takes things day by day, so does the individual recovering from an

There are a lot of terms and phrases applied to addiction. Two popular ones are substance abuse and chemical dependency. While many people use those phrases like they mean the same thing, they don’t. To understand dependency, we need to separate it from substance abuse.

A person with an eating disorder may have started out just eating smaller or larger amounts of food, but at some point, the urge to eat less or more spiraled out of control. Severe distress or concern about body weight or shape may also characterize an eating disorder" (National Institute of Mental Health, p. 3, 2011). Eating addictions are extreme on both ends. If someone has an eating addiction and excessively eats, then they can become overweight. If someone has an eating addiction and eats little to nothing, then they can become excessively thin. Eating disorders frequently develop during adolescence or early adulthood, but can occur during childhood or later in adulthood. Females are more likely than males to develop an eating disorder for a few different reasons. “Eating disorders are more than just a problem with food. Food is used to feel in control of other feelings that may seem overwhelming” (www.womenshealth.gov, 2010). The feeling of being able to either eat as much food as one wants or little to no food, is one that helps someone feel in control, especially if he or she feels as though he or she is not in control in other various aspects of his or her

Many people suffer from many different types of disorders. But one that is on the rise is Binge Eating Disorder or B.E.D. for short. Binge Eating is caused by many different factors such as biological, social, and physiological problems. It is important to understand these causes because they lead to many negative effects. Some of these effects include obesity, low self-esteem, and depression. Binge eating creates a vicious cycle that a person usually cannot escape from.

An eating disorder is an illness that causes severe disruptions to an individual’s normal diet, such as eating unusually small amounts of food or severely overeating. A person with an eating disorder may have started out just eating smaller or larger portions of food, but at some point, a craving to eat less or more twisted out of control. Relentless unhappiness or concern about body weight or shape may also result in an eating disorder. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is an emotional eating disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat, and bulimia nervosa is a chronic eating disorder characterized by continual episodes of excessive food intake followed by self-induced vomiting to avoid weight gain. Anorexia and bulimia are both serious eating disorders with similarities and differences in their behavioral, psychological, and physical symptoms.

In this assignment I will be explain two different health psychology issues and explaining them. The two different issues I have decided to talk about are eating disorders and childbirth. I will then compare the two health psychology issues in relation to their common themes and also their different.