Eating disorders are a group of complicated problems, seen most frequently in women, which pose a serious threat to an individual’s health. Disordered eating habits thrive in a society where a woman’s value is closely equated with thinness. Eating Disorders impact the affected person’s physical body, thinking, emotions, relationships, and spirituality. The three main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa
- Intense fear of gaining weight, even though underweight
- Distorted body image
- Weight loss below the minimal level for age and height (less than 85% of that expected)
- In females, the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles due to weight loss
- Severely restricts the intake of food or engages in periods of overeating followed by behaviors designed to undo the effects of food intake (ex. compulsive exercise)
Bulimia Nervosa
- Episodes of overeating (i.e., binging) combined with a sense of lack of control
- Repeated behaviors aimed at preventing weight gain (i.e., purging by self-induced vomiting, using laxatives, or excessive exercise)
- Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight
- These individuals often maintain an average or above-average weight
Binge Eating Disorder
- Binging and compulsive overeating without purging or compensating behavior
- May eat more rapidly than normal
- May eat without regard to physical feelings of hunger or until feeling uncomfortably full
- A sense of lack of control during the over-eating episode
- Experiences distress and concern regarding the overeating and weight issues
- These individuals often maintain an average or above-average weight
A large percentage of people do not develop a full-scale eating disorder but rather struggle with disordered eating symptoms and body image related issues. Emotional eating, compulsive over-eating, and chronic dieting are a few examples of related problems. See also Self-Worth.
Documents for Download
This document lists emotional and physical states that you may feel when you get the urge to act on unhealthy, sinful, and/or addictive impulses (e.g., desire to drink, binge or purge, allowing impure sexual fantasy to run, etc.). By becoming aware of these triggers, you can begin to use healthy, Christ-honoring coping skills to deal with them more effectively.
Eating-Related Struggles
Eating-related struggles, including sub-clinical eating disorders and emotional eating, are discussed in this set of PowerPoint handouts developed by ACCFS. Guidelines are given for how to manage these types of struggles.