National Eating Disorder Awareness Month

The Counseling CenterPurdue University Calumet

Gyte Room 05(219) 989-2366

www.purduecal.edu/counseling

Eating disorders in the United States

Eating Disorder StatisticsO As many as 20 million women and 10

million men experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives (Wade, Kelski-Rahkonen, & Hudson, 2011)

O The average age that eating disorders begin:O Anorexia Nervosa: 19 years oldO Bulimia Nervosa: 20 years oldO Binge Eating Disorder: 25 years old

(Hudson, Hiripi, Pope, & Kessler, 2007)

What causes the development of an eating disorder?

There is no “one cause” of eating disorders. Eating disorders may develop as the result of a combination of biological, psychological, social, and familial issues.

Types of eating disorders

O Anorexia NervosaO Bulimia NervosaO Eating Disorders Not Otherwise

Specified (EDNOS)O Includes Binge-Eating Disorder

Anorexia NervosaSymptoms:O Not maintaining body weight at, or above, a

minimally normal weight level based on age and height

O Having an intense fear of weight gain, even when underweight

O Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight

O For post-pubescent females, the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles

(American Psychiatric Association, 2000)

Bulimia NervosaSymptoms:O Binge eating, which consists of the following:

O In a specific period of time, eating substantially more food than others in a similar period time, and under similar circumstances, would eat

O Feeling no control, or a lack of control, of the binge eating session

O Engaging in behaviors in order to prevent weight gainO These behaviors may include self-induced vomiting, excessive

exercise, or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, and/or enemasO The binge eating and inappropriate behaviors occur at least

twice a week for 3 monthsO Overly concerned with how one’s body shape and weight

affects self-worth(American Psychiatric Association, 2000)

Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)Eating Disorder NOS has a combination of symptoms from the category of eating disorders, but does not meet the criteria of a specific eating disorder.Binge-Eating Disorder has similar symptoms to Bulimia Nervosa (e.g. eating large amounts of food in short time periods and feeling a lack of control when eating). Individuals suffering from this disorder will exhibit three or more of the following:O Eating more rapidly than normalO Eating until physically uncomfortableO Eating when not hungryO Eating alone because of embarrassmentO Feeling disgusted, depressed or guilty after overeatingIndividuals with Binge-Eating Disorder do not engage in behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as fasting, dieting, excessive exercise, using laxatives, etc. (American Psychiatric Association, 2000)

Society and cultureMedia in today’s society is filled with images which skew the definition of a “healthy” body.O In various studies, girls and boys as young

as 4 and 5 years old recognized that the unhealthy images of thinness in mass media are portrayed as ideal (as cited in Levine & Murnen, 2009).

The meaning of body imageThe meaning of “body image” varies for every individual. In publications by Levine and Smolak, (2006) females interpret body image as being influenced by multiple components. These include the following beliefs: O Being slender is idealized in society,O One should fear being fat, andO A person’s weight and shape greatly

influence their overall identity as cited in Levine & Murnen, (2009)

Men also suffer from eating disorders

Although more women than men suffer from eating disorders, men may also fall victim to the symptoms of these disorders.

CBS News Video

Preventing eating disordersEffective prevention of eating disorders should address the following:O Learning how to live a healthy lifestyle through

nutritious eating and physical activityO Understanding that self-worth is not purely

defined by physical appearanceO Challenging society’s misleading messages

about beautyO Developing realistic expectations of self and

body image O Accepting one’s physical characteristics

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI)

O Body Mass Index (BMI) is the measure of body fat based on a person’s height and weight.O Underweight = <18.5O Normal weight = 18.5–24.9 O Overweight = 25–29.9 O Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

O BMI can be used for both men and women.O Be aware that the BMI scale may overestimate

body fat in athletes and those who have a muscular build, and may underestimate body fat in older persons.

O Calculate your BMI.

Eating Disorder screening

Stop by the PUC Counseling Center for a confidential eating disorder screening at no additional cost for currently enrolled students.

For a free and confidential online eating disorder screening, visit the Screening for Mental Health, Inc. Online Screening Program. From here click on Screening Locator to choose your state and university.

Get help todayNational Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Information and Referral HelplineO Phone: 1-800-931-2237 O Website O Additional information about eating disorder

s

Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA)O E-mailO WebsiteO Facebook

Additional InformationULifeline. ULifeline provides a quick (5-10 min) mental health screener, as well as information on other topics concerning mental health and suicide prevention.ULifeline through the Counseling Center website.Half of us. Half of us is a resource center that provides information on a variety of issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, suicide, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, stress and alcohol/drugs.Half of us website.

Counseling ServicesThe Purdue University Calumet Counseling Center is located in the Gyte Room 05. Personal counseling is offered to currently enrolled students, at no additional fee and is confidential as established by law. To set up an appointment or for additional information, please contact the PUC Counseling Center at (219) 989-2366. You may also visit our website.

Spring 2013 Office HoursMonday – Thursday8:00am to 5:00pmFriday8:00am to 4:00pm

Promote AwarenessO Everybody knows somebody who has

been affected by an eating disorder, or has struggled with body image expectations.

O Visit National Eating Disorders and NEDAwareness for more information.

ReferencesAmerican Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental

disorders: DSM-IV-TR (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author. Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). The prevalence and

correlates of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61, 348-358.

Levine, M. P. & Harrison, K. (2004). The role of mass media in the perpetuation and prevention of negative body image and disordered eating. In J. K. Thompson (Ed.), Handbook of eating disorders & obesity (pp. 695-717). New York: Wiley.

Levine, M. P., & Murnen, S. K. (2009). Everybody knows that mass media are/are not [pick one] a cause of eating disorders”: A critical review of evidence for a causal link between media, negative body image, and disordered eating in females. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 28, 9-42.

Levine, M. P., & Smolak, L. (2006). The prevention of eating problems and eating disorders: Theory, research, and practice. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

National Eating Disorders Association. (2005). Statistics: Eating disorders and their precursors. Retrieved from National Eating Disorders.org PDF.

Smolak, L., & Levine, M. P. (1994). Critical issues in the developmental psychopathology of eating disorders. In L. Alexander & B. Lumsden (Eds.), Understanding eating disorders (pp. 37-60). Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis.

Smolak, L., & Levine, M. P. (1996). Adolescents’ transitions and the development of eating problems. In L. Smolak, M. P. Levine, & R. Striegel-Moore (Eds.), The psychopathology of eating disorders: Implications for research, prevention, and treatment (pp. 207-234). Mahwah NJ: Erlbaum.

References (cont.)Smolak, L., & Murnen, S. K. (2004). A feminist approach to eating disorders. In

J.K. Thompson (Ed.), Handbook of eating disorders and obesity (pp. 590-605). New York: Wiley.

Smolak, L., & Murnen, S. K. (2007). Feminism and body image. In V. Swami & A. Furnham (Eds.), The body beautiful: Evolutionary and socio-cultural perspectives (pp. 236-258). London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Wade, T. D., Kelski-Rahkonen, A., & Hudson, J. (2011). Epidemiology of eating disorders. In M. Tsuang and M. Tohen (Eds.), Textbook in Psychiatric Epidemiology (3rd ed.) (pp. 343-360). New York: Wiley.