Anorexia vs. Bulimia Nervous Both Essay Example
Anorexia vs. Bulimia Nervous Both Essay Example

Anorexia vs. Bulimia Nervous Both Essay Example

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  • Pages: 6 (1560 words)
  • Published: January 10, 2018
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Anorexia Nervous vs.. Bulimia Nervous Both Anorexia Nervous and Bulimia Nervous share several similarities and differences In terms of their diagnoses, side effects and treatments. In the case of psychically Illnesses Like Anorexia and Bulla, a diagnosis Is made based on the patient's report about the physical and psychological symptoms experienced. Anorexia and Bulimia also elicit dangerous side effects which affect the cardiovascular system, digestive system and skeletal system as well as the mental well-being of a person.

These eating disorders are approached with methods of retirement that range from weight restoration to mental rehabilitation.

There are several different and similar medical and psychological assessments used to diagnose Anorexia Nervous and Bulimia Nervous. One factor that distinguishes between these two eating disorders is the

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extent of weight loss of a patient. (Shepherd, 2010, p. 9) Anorexics have a disposition of refusing to maintain a body weight at or above the minimum end of a normal weight range.

A person diagnosed with anorexia weighs roughly 85% or less than their ideal body weight based on gender, height and age. (Shepherd, 2010, p. -4) With that being said, a person engaged In binge eating or purging who weighs less than 85% of their expected normal weight would meet the criteria of anorexia nervous, while a normal weight person who engages in similar behavior would be diagnosed with bulimia nervous. (Shepherd, 2010, p. 9) The term 'bulimia nervous' literally means ox-hunger and requires binge eating, but not necessarily purging to be present. Hallo, 1992, p.

97) A person who is diagnosed with bulimia is either at a normal weight or is overweight. The unique abnormality of bot

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anorexia and bulimia Is disturbed eating behavior. Anorexics have the general tendency to deny hunger, avoid eating with others and restrict caloric Intake or maintain severe dieting. They also have a list of 'safe foods' and 'fear foods'. Safe foods are usually diet foods with extremely low calories such as green tea and celery sucks, whereas fear foods are foods with higher calories such as bread and cake.

Anorexics are also ritualistic about food. Examples of such ritualistic behavior include chewing each bite of food for a certain number of times, measuring food servings, and counting the number of items eaten. (Shepherd, 2010, p. 9-56) People diagnosed with bulimia nervous suffer from powerful and uncontrollable urges to overeat. They seek to avoid the "fattening" effects of food by inducing vomiting or abusing laxatives or both.

Bulimics are also preoccupied with food, have irresistible cravings for food and repeated episodes of overeating. (Mitchell, 1990, p. ) Bulimic individuals consume a large amount of food, usually far more than would simply be considered as overeating. Binge-eaters consume primarily snack or dessert foods such as doughnuts, Ice-cream, bread, candy and carbonated drinks.

(Mitchell, 1990, p. 7) Early In the course of the Illness, most bull Individuals self-induce vomiting by stimulating their gag reflex mechanically, using a toothbrush, an eating utensil, or their fingers. Eventually, many learn to vomit fluid towards the end of a binge-eating episode to make vomiting easier. (Mitchell, 1990, p. 9) The common criteria of those diagnosed with anorexia and bulimia include poor self-confidence and emotional stress. These feelings are accompanied by guilt and depression.

Both eating disorders are commonly caused by a traumatic experience,

abuse, low self-esteem and other similar factors. Anorexics and bulimics cope with their feelings by means of starving or overeating. Other mental disorders associated with the diagnosis for anorexia and bulimia includes depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (COD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PETS), and Body Dystrophy's Disorder (BAD). "Anorexia Nervous Risk Factors - Anorexia Nervous Health Information - NY Times Health", n.

D. , p. 1-6) It is evident that anorexia and bulimia are both psychological disorders that affect people's eating habits. There are several distinguishable internal and external consequences that depict limit and anorexic behavior as well as some that tie both eating disorders into a parallel.

Internal indications that Anorexia and Bulimia are that its sufferers experience heart diseases. Heart disorder is a very common medical determinant of patients suffering from severe anorexia.

Anorexia causes dangerously slow heart rhythms, known in Brickyard. This results in reduced blood flow to the whole body and the dropping of blood pressure. ("Eating Disorders I University of Maryland Medical Center", n. D.

, p. 9-10) Anorexics are often Low Blood Pressure patients. Bulimics, on the other hand, have high chances of cardiac arrest due to the weakened heart muscle. ("??eating Disorders I University of Maryland Medical Center", n. D. , p.

8) High Blood Pressure is also common in Bulimics who compulsively overeat. This can cause vision impairment due to blood vessel impairment.

Internal side effects are where Anorexia and Bulimia victims both endure physical appearance defects. The anorexic will show physical signs of thyroid growth due to imbalance hormonal activity and a lack of potassium whereas the bulimic experiences tooth erosion, cavities and gum problems from a lack

of calcium. Eating Disorders I University of Maryland Medical Center", n.

D. , p. 8) Since the bulimic eats and constantly induces vomiting resulting in esophagi damage, the bulimic patient will struggle with swallowing solid food or liquids. (Eating Disorders I University of Maryland Medical Center", n.

. , p. 8) Forced vomiting causes the mechanism of the swallowing and digestion to rupture. The anorexic will show growth complications, sometimes being small in size or experiencing retarded growths on various parts of the body.

(Eating Disorders I University of Maryland Medical Center", n. D. P. 9) The bulimic shows signs of water retention and abdominal bloating. (Eating Disorders I University of Maryland Medical Center", n. D.

, p. L) The anorexic however experiences bone density loss, hence suffering from Osteoporosis. ("What People with Anorexia Nervous Need to Know About Osteoporosis", n. .

, p. L) The two eating disorders similarly, result in multi-organ failure. Both victims will experience a collapse of the digestive system, causing constipation and or liver damage. They also suffer from neurological problems, often experiencing seizures and disordered thinking. Anorexics and bulimics also undergo Amenorrhea, which is the absence or irregularity of menstruation.

(??eating Disorders I University of Maryland side effects that are fatal. There are many different and similar forms of treatments administered to people diagnosed with anorexia nervous and bulimia nervous.

New research reveals that there may be a more effective treatment for anorexia. It is known as the The Muddles Approach.

This family-based outpatient treatment is a promising alternative as opposed to costly inpatient or day programs at the hospital. Phase I of the treatment is the weight restoration

phase. The therapist attends to the severe malnutrition of the patient, assesses the family pattern of interaction as well as eating habits, and assists the parents in re-feeding their child. Phase II of treatment focuses on encouraging the parents to help their child take more control over eating once again.

The parents are advised to accept the main task of returning their child to physical health. When the adolescent is able to independently maintain a body weight above 95% of the ideal weight and has stopped starving himself or herself, Phase Ill of the treatment can be initiated.

The focus of treatment results in a review of some main issues related to adolescence which includes trusting the child with more freedom and independence as well as the development of appropriate parental boundaries. This phase of treatment also helps parents to get their lives together following their children's imminent departure. "Muddles Parents - family-based treatment for eating disorders, anorexia nervous, and bulimia nervous", n. D. , p. 1-5) Meanwhile, the largest controlled study on bulimia nervous so far supports what earlier research has found: Tailored cognitive behavioral therapy ND, to some extent, interpersonal psychotherapy can help young women stop binging and purging, accept their appearance, and develop healthier ways of coping with stressful situations.

(Dangles, 2002, p. 38) Treatment is based on a model that emphasizes the critical role of both cognitive and behavioral factors in the maintenance of the disorder.

It follows from this cognitive model of the maintenance of bulimia nervous that treatment must address more than the presenting behaviors of binge eating and purging. In addition, dietary restraint must be replaced with ore

normal eating patterns, and dysfunctional thoughts and feelings about the personal significance of body weight and shape must be altered.

The cognitive model also suggests that treatment may need to address which the goal is to help patients identify and modify current interpersonal problems. The treatment has three stages.

In the first, the goal is to engage the patient in treatment, identify current interpersonal problems and establish a treatment contract. This usually takes three or four sessions.

This stage ends with the therapist and patient deciding which of the identified problems will be the focus of the remainder of treatment. As originally developed, the second and third stages of the treatment are identical to PIT for depression except that the patient is put under negative self-evaluation, perfectionism and dichotomous thinking, and perhaps also the ability to tolerate negative affect.

Interpersonal psychotherapy (PIT) is a short-term focal psychotherapy in more pressure to change. The eating disorder is not directly addressed: if it is mentioned by the patient, the therapist promptly shifts the focus on to its interpersonal context. Wilson, 1997, p. 10-12) Anorexia and Bulimia can also be treated using prescriptive drugs and psycho- pharmacopoeia but both have a limited capability to heal.

Bulimic patients a Selective Serotonin Eruptive Inhibitor (SIR) antidepressant, specifically Stereotypical Oxalate (Lexical) to treat major depression.

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