Weight Management &Eating Disorders

A Healthy Weight

HeightAgeGenderBone StructureBody buildGrowth pattern

Body image

Body image-mental concept you have of your physical appearance

Don’t compare yourself to othersNormal for people to have different sizes

an shapesAccept characteristics you can’t change

Appropriate Weight

Body Mass Index (BMI)—uses weight in relation to height and age to determine whether you are in an appropriate weight range

Doesn’t take into account muscle

Smart Weight Management

Both overweight and underweight can be unhealthy

Overweight-contributes to heart disease, diabetes, puts strain on muscles and joints

Underweight-contributes to anemia, low energy, other disorders associate w/ poor nutrition

Balance is keyFood supply body w/ energy, physical

activity uses energyCalories-units in which energy is measuredWhen energy taken in and energy used are

balanced, weight remains stableAsk doctor if your think you’re overweight

or underweight

Losing Weight

As a teen, weight gain is natural and healthyMany doctors advise overweight teens not to try

to lose weight, but rather to slow down the rate at which they are gaining

Increase physical activityChoose nutritious foods that are lower in fat and

caloriesCut back on food that are high in calories and

contribute little nutrients

Gaining Weight

Gained slowly and steadilyFood should reflect nutrition guidelinesPlan meals around food you likeTry to eat more frequently and eat larger

portionsSnack on hearty, nutritious foods

Eating disorders

Extreme eating behaviors that can lead to serious health problems or even death

Anorexia nervosaBulimia nervosaBinge eating disorder

Anorexia Nervosa

Eating disorder that involves an extreme urge to lose weight by starving oneself

Drastically reduce the amount of food they eat

Resist efforts of parents/peers to get them to eat more

May greatly increase exerciseGreatly distorted body image

Consequences

Damage to bones, muscles, skin, organs

Can lead to kidney failure

Can lead to heart failure

Lack of energyCold all the timeDry,yellowish skin

Constipation

Abdominal pain

Dizziness

Fainting

Headaches

Growth of fine hair all over body

Over time..

Hair loss InfertilityStunted growthOsteoporosisTooth decayGum damageDeath

Warning Signs

Being preoccupied w/ weight

Spending excessive amount of time exercising

Never complaining or expressing negative feelings

Talking about being fat

Devoting time to choosing and preparing food but eating very little

Cutting food into very small pieces

Dramatic weight lossHarshly critical of appearanceDenies being too thinPretending to eat or lying about eatingStrange or secretive food ritualsDieting despite being too thinObsession w/ calorie, fat grams, etc

Dieting vs. Anorexia

Weight loss is viewed as a way to improve health and appearance

Self-esteem is based on more than just weight

An attempt to control weight

Goal is to lose healthy

Viewed as a way to achieve happiness

Self-esteem based entirely on what you weigh and how thin you are

Attempt to control life and emotions

Health not a concern

Causes

BiologicalPsychologicalFamily and social pressures

Not just one thing

Treatment

3 componentsRestoring person to healthy weightTreating psychological issues related to

disorderReducing/eliminating thoughts and

behaviors that will lead to recurrence of disorder

Medical treatment—hospitilizationNutritional counselingCounseling and therapy

Bulimia

Involves bouts of extreme overeating followed by attempts to get rid of the food eaten

Avg. 3000-5000 calories in short periodsPeriods of overeating often done in secretVomiting, laxatives

Consequences

DehydrationElectrolyte imbalanceIrregular heartbeatCloudy thinkingKidney failureDeathWeight gain

Abdominal painChronic sore throatBroken blood vessels in eyesSwollen cheeks and salivary glandsWeakness, dizzinessTooth decay, mouth soresRuptured stomach or esophagus

Warning Signs

Try to hide binging and purgingUsually normal weightLack of control over eatingSecrecy surrounding eatingEating unusually large amounts of food w/

no signs of weight gainDisappearance of food

Going to bathroom after meals, laxativesSmell of vomitExcessive exercisingCalluses or scars on knucklesPuffy “chipmunk” cheeksDiscolored teethFrequent weight fluctuations

Causes

No single cause: social, psychological, biological

Poor body imageDietingLow self-esteemMajor life changesAppearance-oriented professions

Treatment

Breaking binge-purge cycle: monitor eating habits, avoid situations that cause binge, eat regularly, cope w/ stress

Changing unhealthy thoughts or patterns

Binge Eating

Most commonCompulsive overeatingUsually eat large amounts of food at one

time, even when not hungryDo not attempt to get rid of foodExperience feelings of shame or guilt

Typically lasts about 2 hoursCan be off and on throughout the dayFeel like they can’t stop

Effects

StressInsomniaDepressionAnxietyWeight gainType 2 diabetesGallbladder disease

High cholesterolHigh blood pressureHeart diseaseCertain types of cancerJoint and muscle painIntestinal problems

Warning Signs

Inability to stop or control eatingRapidly eating large amounts of foodEating when your fullHiding food secretly for laterEating normally around others, gorging

aloneFeeling tension that is only relieved by

eating

Embarrassment over what you’re eatingNever feeling satisfied no matter how

much eatFeel guilt, disgust after overeating

Causes

BiologicalPsychologicalSocial

TherapyMedications?