Apr 25, 2004 08:04 PM
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(Updated Apr 25, 2004 08:04 PM)
There are many types of?eating disorders?. More & more cases of?Obesity? are reported all over the world; More in big cities; so more types of eating disorders. They are more of?psychosomatic? type. I advise that doctors should treat them!
The main eating disorders are **1) ANOREXIA NERVOSA. 2) BULIMIA NERVOSA.
3) BINGE EATING DISORDER.*
1) Anorexia is when the person restricts the amount he or she eats & drinks way below that recommended for a normal weight-loss diet.
2) Bulimia is when a person after eating food vomits; or takes laxatives to get loose motions to control their weight.(Commonest in Bollywood girls). This is often following starvation for a long time!
3) Binge eating disorder is?compulsive eating?. It is more than occasional mild binge on extra chocolate bar & is more than having second portions of a particular tasty food.
Who can get this disorder??
Any body can get an eating disorder. Majority of patients are between 15 to 30 years of age. Females are ten times more in number all over the world. Anorexics are generally related; genetically?(Recent research has proved a gene involved in?satiety control? which is more commonly present in anorexics!)
*Student under heavy academic pressures may be more at risk.
Young female about to get married against her wishes.
People under strong social pressure like young politician or young cricketer appearing first time on international cricket.
Major upsets in life of anybody(like big raid by income tax or any tax! Divorce in
family etc.) can trigger an eating disorder.*
However anorexia can develop because of a desire to shed extra weight, when normal dieting habits become haywire or too much exaggerated and bulimia can develop as a way to eat without putting on weight; therefore the pressure to be?SLIM? is a risk factor.
Since all eating disorders are?complex illnesses?; doctors and not any non-medical person should treat them. Warning-without appropriate treatment, ?eating disorder? may persist throughout life!
Dr.Shafique Pathan.
