Types of Eating Disorders:

- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge Eating
- Compulsive Eating
- For less-well-known eating disorders and related problems go to www.anred.com/defslesser.html

Characteristics of Eating Disorders:

Anorexia Nervosa
1. Weight: 15 % below ideal body weight. Refusal to maintain a normal weight or above normal weight for height and age.
2. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight.
3. Body Image Problems
4. No Periods

Bulimia Nervosa
1. Binge Eating
2. Purging
3. Binging and Purging occurs more than 2 x a week for at least 3 months
4. Body Image : Self evaluation and self esteem is overly influenced by weight and shape.

Warning Signs:

Anorexia Nervosa
• Deliberate self-starvation with weight loss
• Intense, persistent fear of gaining weight
• Refusal to eat, except tiny portions
• Continuous dieting
• Excessive facial/body hair because of inadequate protein in the diet
• Compulsive exercise
• Abnormal weight loss
• Sensitive to cold
• Absent or irregular menstruation
• Hair loss

Bulimia Nervosa
• Preoccupation with food
• Binge eating, usually in secret
• Vomiting after bingeing
• Abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills
• Denial of hunger or drugs to induce vomiting
• Compulsive exercise
• Swollen salivary glands
• Broken blood vessels in the eyes

Binge Eating
• Feel their eating is out of control
• Eat what most people would think is an unusually large amount of food
• Eat until so full they are uncomfortable
• Eat large amounts of food, even when they are not really hungry
• Eat alone because they are embarrassed about the amount of food they eat
• Feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating

Compulsive Eating
• Think about food a lot
• Eat to relieve worry or stress
• Continue to eat even after feeling sick from eating too much
• Become anxious while eating
• Overeat
• Eat too fast
• Eat everything on the plate
• Feel guilty when you eat
• Eat secretly
• Cannot eat one cookie, or any treat that you really like
• Binge after a diet
• Hunger makes you feel fearful and uncomfortable

Information from the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders http://www.altrue.net/site/anadweb/ & the Freedomyou Addiction Center http://www.freedomyou.com

Resources: UNM and Albuquerque

The WRC offers a Body Image Peer Support Group Saturday from 2pm-3pm at the WRC. The WRC also offers a Peer Support Group for Friends and Family of People with Eating Disorders, every other Saturday from 3pm-4pm. Check the WRC Calendar for list of groups.

The WRC offers crisis intervention and information referral. Check the WRC Calendar of Events for specific programs. Phone (505) 277-3716

UNM students can contact Counseling and Therapy Services (CATS) for individual and occasional group counseling. Phone (505) 277-4537

Counseling, Assistance & Referral Services (CARS) provide a confidential and accessible setting for faculty and staff to freely discuss concerns that affect their personal lives or job performance.

UNM Student Health Center - Phone (505) 277-3136
www.unm.edu/~shc1/

UNM Hospitals - Phone (505) 272-2111
hospitals.unm.edu/

Resources: National

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
http://anad.org/

Binge Eating Disorders
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/binge.htm

Freedom you Addiction Center
www.freedomyou.com/compulsive_eating/compusive%20eating%20signs.htm

WRC • Mesa Vista Hall, Room 1160 • Albuquerque, NM 87131Phone: 505/277-3716 • Fax: 505/2772913 • Email: women@unm.edu