Eating disorders affect vast majority of Australians including male and females, with 95% of individuals with an eating disorder meeting the criteria for at least on other mental illness including anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
An eating disorder is a serious and often fatal illness that causes severe disturbances to an individual’s eating behaviours. Eating disorders embody the symptoms of having severe obsessions with food, body weight and shape.
Types of Eating Disorders and Symptoms
There are three main types of eating disorders.
- Anorexia Nervosa
People with Anorexia Nervosa may see themselves as overweight, even when they are dangerously underweight.
Symptoms:
- Extremely restricted eating
- Extreme thinness (emaciation)
- A relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a healthy weight.
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Distorted body image, self-esteem is influenced by body perceptions or denial of low body weight.
2. Bulimia Nervosa
People with Bulimia Nervosa have recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amount of food and the feeling a lack of control over these episodes resulting in forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or excessive exercise etc…
Symptoms
- Chronically inflamed and sore throat
- Swollen salivary glands in the neck and jaw area
- Worn tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth
- Acid reflux disorder or gastrointestinal problems
- Severe dehydration
- Electrolyte imbalance which can lead to stroke or heart attack
3. Binge-eating disorder
People with binge-eating disorder lose control over his or her eating. Unlike bulimia, people with binge-eating disorder are often overweight or obese.
Symptoms
- Eat unusual large amounts of food in a specific amount of time
- Eating even when you’re full or not hungry
- Eating fast during binge episodes
- Eating until you’re uncomfortably full
- Eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment
- Feeling distressed, ashamed or guilty about your eating
- Frequently dieting, possibly without weight loss
Services available
UNSW – Medical and Health Services
Sydney – Centre for Eating and Dieting Disorders
NOT SO 'MENTAL' 