Question

In abnormal psychology in chapter 9 eating disorders pg 346-374
What are the 3 main eating disorders and how are they different?

Answer 1

Eating disorders refer to obsessions or extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviours with weight and food issues. The eating disorder is actually serious and often fatal illnesses that cause severe disturbances to a person. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Out of these, Anorexia nervosa takes an enormous toll on the body. The findings of a review of nearly fifty years of research confirm that anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder (Arcelus, Mitchel, Wales & Nelson, 2011).

There are three main types of eating disorders:

·         Anorexia nervosa-This disorder is characterized by great and irrational fear of getting fat and involves weight loss often due to excessive dieting and exercise, sometimes to the point of starvation.

·         Bulimia nervosa- This disorder is characterized by self-induced vomiting or using laxatives to keep from gaining any weight.

·         Binge eating disorder-This disorder is characterized by overeating. This is observed in emotional eaters who find a way to deal with their problems by eating too much.