Eating Disorders Summary

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Jonathan Cavan’s and Frances Connan’s article, ‘Eating disorders’ (2010), states that eating disorders are commonly found in women and can have a big impact on their physical, social and psychological health and wellbeing. The purpose of the research was to be able to identify a patient with an eating disorder using clinical features, to successfully treat the patient and produce a better outcome. Eating disorders are classified into anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). The former is characterised by weight loss, a body mass index (BMI) lower than 17.5, an abnormality of endocrine system such that women have irregular menstruation and men lose sexual interest. A patient that has the above-mentioned disorder restricts themselves from …show more content…
Studies have shown that family genetics, dealing with life events and difficulties, criticism from family members and partaking in activities that encourage being thin can lead to the development of AN and BN. In addition, there are people who at risk of developing eating disorders and some include females, young adults and people with low self-esteem. Diagnosing patients can be very hard because they do not admit to having such problems. Therefore, diagnosis is done based on accurate information and assessment of their current and previous eating habits, thoughts on body shape and clinical features, which is supported with information from concerned family members. Individuals with bulimia nervosa are usually of normal weight or overweight. Although, they might have problems such as poor concentration, anxiety, irritablitlity and other health problems such as dizziness, fainting and low blood pressure. Other ways of detecting eating disorders in a patient involves the use of finding abnormalities in their phosphate, urea and hormone levels. A patient with an eating disorder is likely to have depression. Two illness occurring at the same time makes it hard for diagnosis and treatment. Complications that follow eating disorders include

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