Common Concerns
Eating Disorders
Definitions | Signs and Symptoms | Eating Disorders Screening | CAPS Offerings | Tips for Family and Friends | Personal Stories | Other LinksEating Concerns: Definitions
Did you know that 3 out of 4 college women struggle with some type of disordered eating behavior or thought patterns? This means at the University of Michigan over 50% of women struggle with these issues. The prevalence of eating disorders, along with the seriousness of these disorders, led us to create a special section on our website. We are trying to provide information not only for people dealing with disordered eating but also for the people who love and care about them. Please note examining the contents of our website is a good initial step but the best line for addressing this issue is seeking services from a qualified professional. For more information, you can contact CAPS at 764-8312.
Eating issues can range from: general concerns about food and body weight, preoccupation with food and dieting, emotional eating, all the way up to a full-blown eating disorder. The three most common eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and compulsive eating.
Anorexia nervosa is a disruption in normal eating habits characterized by an all-consuming fear of becoming fat. It is a serious illness of self-starvation and dramatic weight loss with both physical and psychological components. It primarily affects young, otherwise healthy women with onset generally between the ages of 13-19. Over 95% of those with anorexia are women and adolescent females. The severe starvation and weight loss are not due to a poor appetite or disinterest in food-on the contrary, people with anorexia are typically preoccupied with food and want to eat most of the time.
Bulimia Nervosa is a cycle of uncontrolled binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, fasting, excessive exercise, and/or using laxatives and diuretics). It is usually accompanied by frequent weight fluctuations and becomes a compulsive cycle that is difficult to break. Bulimia often develops during the first years of college.
Binge Eating disorder is a relatively recently recognized disorder (it is sometimes referred to as compulsive overeating). Some researchers believe it is the most common of the eating disorders affecting millions of Americans. Similar to bulimia nervosa, those with binge eating disorder frequently consume large amounts of food while feeling a lack of control over their eating. However, this disorder is different from bulimia nervosa because people with binge eating disorder usually do not purge (i.e. vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise, etc) their bodies of the excess food they consume during a binge episode.