Chapter 16: Eating Disorders Anorexia nervosa- a psychiatric disorder characterized by an unrealistic fear of weight gain, selfstarvation, and

conspicuous distortion of body image. The individual is obsessed with becoming increasingly thinner and limits food intake to the point where health is compromised. The disorder may be fatal. The name comes from two Latin words that mean nervous inability to eat Binge eating disorder- A condition characterized by recurrent binge eatingat least 2 days/week for 6 months; absence of anorexia nervosa; no recurrent purging, excessive exercise or fasting, marked distress with 3+ of following: Eating very rapidly; eating until uncomfortably full; eating when not hungry; eating alone; feeling disgusted or guilty after a binge Bulimia nervosa- a serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorder affecting mainly young women. People with bulimia, known as bulimics, consume large amounts of food (binge) and then try to rid themselves of the food and calories (purge) by fasting, excessive exercise, vomiting, or using laxatives. The behavior often serves to reduce stress and relieve anxiety. Because bulimia results from an excessive concern with weight control and self-image, and is often accompanied by depression, it is also considered a psychiatric illness. Cognitive distortions- exaggerated and irrational thoughts identified in cognitive therapy and its variants, which, according to the theory of such therapy, perpetuate certain psychological disorders. The theory of cognitive distortions was first proposed by David D. Burns, MD.[1] Eliminating these distortions and negative thoughts is said to improve mood and discourage maladies such as depression and chronic anxiety. The process of learning to refute these distortions is called "cognitive restructuring". Ideal body weight- the weight statistically determined on actuarial tables to be associated with the lowest mortality for an average individual, adjusting for some combination of height, age, frame size, and gender. Which factors should be included and how it should be determined remain controversial