Disordered Eating
Jessica Hess, ATC
Hughston Athletic Training Fellowship
Disordered eating is a term used to describe the inadequate or inappropriate consumption of food. Disorder eating behaviors are characterized as dieting without regard to health, disorganized eating patterns, and overeating.
Eating disorders have developed into a very prevalent problem in today’s society. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial for one’s health. Signs and symptoms for developing an eating disorder include: middle-class or upper-class socioeconomic status, family history of eating disorders, participation in activities valuing thinness (i.e. sports, dance, modeling), unsuccessful attempts at dieting and weight loss, history of sexual abuse, family issues (i.e. separation difficulties, over involvement, abandonment), psychiatric co-morbidity (i.e. depression, anxiety, substance abuse), and type 1 diabetes.
The three most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and compulsive overeating or binge eating. Individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa suffer from psychologically induced self-starvation in an attempt to reduce body weight. It is identified as body weight <85% of expected weight, intense fear of weight gain, inaccurate perception of own body size, weight, or shape, and amenorrhea, or absence of menstrual cycle. Different from anorexia nervosa, individuals with bulimia nervosa do not have a distorted body image and the person’s body weight will relatively remain the same.
Bulimia nervosa is characterized as recurrent binge eating (at least twice per week for three months), recurrent purging, excessive exercise, or fasting (at least twice per week for three months), excessive concern about body weight or shape, and absence of anorexia nervosa. Often after the binge eating, individuals will purge due to guilt associated with the binge itself.
The final type of eating disorder is called compulsive overeating. It is characterized by impulsive, uncontrolled, binging beyond the point of feeling comfortably full. With this disorder there is no purging; although there may be periods of dieting, fasting, and periods of self hatred after a binge. Patients with this disorder may also be accompanied by depression, anxiety, or loneliness. Body weight of individuals who suffer from compulsive overeating may range dramatically from normal to obese.
Athletes are often under great physical and psychological stress which puts them at risk for eating disorders. In a recent study of NCAA Division I athletes, over one third reported attitudes and symptoms of disordered eating placing them at risk for developing anorexia nervosa. An athlete in a sport that stresses weight and body image such as gymnastics, dance, and wrestling is a risk factor. Another risk factor is an athlete in a sport that concentrates on the individual rather than a team such as gymnastics, wrestling, running and diving. Endurance sports also pose a risk for athletes in developing eating disorders.
Female athletes who suffer from an eating disorder are also at risk of developing the Female Athlete Triad. This is when a female suffers from disordered eating, loss of menstrual period, and osteoporosis. This disorder leads to loss of calcium and bone density putting one in danger of stress fractures of the bones. Each of the three components of the Female Athlete Triad poses a great health threat, when they are all together the concern is exacerbated, thus life threatening.
Eating disorders can pose a great threat to the body. Complications from eating disorders can affect numerous body systems including cardiovascular, dermatologic, endocrine, metabolic, gastrointestinal, reproductive, hematological, musculoskeletal, and neurological systems. Eating disorders put great stress on bodily systems causing a variety of conditions and complications. Some of the conditions include heart arrhythmias, infertility, osteoporosis, and seizures just to name a few. To reduce the effects of these complications it is very crucial that prevention and treatment is counseled as soon as possible.
Medical treatment is often necessary and life long in patients with eating disorders. Treatment can consist of both psychological and nutritional counseling. Psychological counseling needs to address the disordered eating as well as the underlying personal factors associated with the disease. One seeking treatment for an eating disorder should consult a physician to be referred to the proper resources.
Jessica Hess, ATC, is a second year graduate student and recipient of the Hughston Athletic Training Fellowship in Columbus, Georgia. She earned a bachelors degree in Health Management with an emphasis in Athletic Training from Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
While at SEMO, she received the Athletic Training Major of the Year award, an honor given by the College of Health and Human Performance.
She is an active member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) and currently serves as the Head Athletic Trainer at Spencer High School, Columbus, Georgia.