The recent death of twenty-eight-year-old French fashion model Isabelle Caro, who passed away from anorexia, illustrates the danger of eating disorders. Isabelle had struggled with anorexia since she was 13, at one point weighing as little as fifty-one pounds. What do we know about eating disorders, their causes and their treatments?
Prevalence of Anorexia and Bulimia
According to Dr. David S. Rosen, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Michigan, "the prevalence of anorexia nervosa is fairly well-understood to be about 0.5%. The prevalence of bulimia nervosa is understood to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 2%-4%.”
Anorexia nervosa is a disease characterized by unreasonable fears of becoming fat or obese. Bulimia is characterized by secretive episodic binge eating by people of normal weight, followed by purging by vomiting, laxatives or excessive exercise.
Causes and Treatments of Anorexia and Bulimia
Eating disorders are most effectively treated in early stages. Among children, eating disorders are becoming more common in boys who now account for 10% of cases seen by pediatricians. Among pre-pubescent children, the rates are rising as well. One reason for the increase in younger children may be better early diagnosis, but more darkly, another reason may be the renewed emphasis on preventing obesity in the wider culture. Eating disorders are associated with perfectionism and may have a genetic component. Anorexia in children can cause problems with growth, bone health and changes in the brain.
Bulimia has no one distinct cause, but low levels of serotonin, low self-esteem and pressures to be thin may play a role. Genetics may also contribute to the disease. Rates of relapse are high, particularly when individuals are stressed. Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia but does not have "compensatory" behavior of vomiting or laxitive use.
The prognosis for anorexia is poor. Only about 50% of those with the disorder recover. According to Dr. Bettina Bernstein, "Of the remaining 50%, 20% remain emaciated, and 25% remain thin. The remaining 10% become overweight or die of starvation."
There are no FDA-approved drugs to treat eating disorders, but if obsessive behavior is noted, medications for obsessive-compulsive disorder may be prescribed. Recent strides have been made with family-based therapy where the parents are primarily responsible for ensuring their child eats. This is a new model to the United States, but as parents love their children like no one else, it has been found to be more effective than other therapies.
Selective Eating Disorder
Some research has been done on a third type of disordered eating, called "selective eating disorder." People with this condition "feel there are very few foods they are even capable of eating." An adult with this condition might eat only three or four foods—maybe peanut butter, french fries, and bread. The social problems that arise from this behavior are myriad as most social and many business functions involve eating. More research needs to be done to determine the extent and cause of this condition.
As health experts focus a light on the problem of obesity, ironically, the problems of anorexia and bulimia may grow. Children may need even more assistance in choosing a healthy ways to eat. Both girls and boys are at risk.
Sources
- Anorexia Complications Claim Life of French Model Isabelle Caro
- Binge Eating Disorder
- Bulimia
- Eating Disorder: Anorexia
- The Epidemiology of Eating Disorders in Children
- Grown up but eat like a kid? You may have 'selective eating disorder'
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Gina Barrett Putt - Gina Barrett Putt works in housing, with experience in case management for elders and the mentally ill, and college and K-12 education.
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