Medical
By Stefanie Lein According to the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) up to 75% of people with an eating disorder also suffer from anxiety or depression and having difficulty in coping with depression. Indeed, often a variety of mental health disorders can exist together with eating disorders. But science has yet to discern whether …
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8 women with the same BMI but differing weight distribution By Angie Best-Boss, Contributing Writer Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. As the Centers for Disease Control explains, BMI is used as a screening tool to identify possible …
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Potassium is an electrolyte that is critical to the function of nerve and muscles cells, including those in your heart. Low potassium (hypokalemia) has many causes. The most common cause of low potassium is excessive potassium loss in urine or from the gastrointestinal tract, such as happens during eating disorders. Hypokalemia can be caused by …
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Eating disorders can negatively impact all systems of the body. Pituitary Gland problems are frequently associated with eating disorders. The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain that releases special hormones that regulate the activity of other glands. It is involved in controlling thyroid functions, the adrenal glands, growth, and sexual maturation. …
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The salivary glands make saliva and release it into the mouth. There are three pairs of relatively large, major salivary glands, including the parotid glands. They are located in the upper part of each cheek, close to the ear. The duct of each parotid gland empties onto the inside of the cheek, near the molars …
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Osteoporosis as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) is having a bone density of 2.5 times or more standard deviations below the average young adult peak bone mass. In more general terms, to have osteoporosis means that the density of bone is decreased which makes bone weaker and more prone to fractures. In severe …
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Bones need calcium and phosphorus to remain healthy and strong, but the body also needs vitamin D to be able to absorb these two minerals. Without this necessary vitamin, bones can become soft and flexible. This softening is called osteomalacia, or rickets when diagnosed in children. Because of the perception of dairy products as being …
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Musculoskeletal problems are very common in individuals with an eating disorder. As a general rule, individuals with severe anorexia nervosa have poor muscle strength and a decrease in stamina. Eventually, people with long-term and severe cases will have difficulty standing from a crouch or lifting the arms above the head to comb the hair. The …
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Eating disorders can frequently impact one’s judgment. Electrolyte imbalances can cause the neurotransmitters of the brain to be altered, leaving the perception affected. Besides having impaired judgment, people struggling with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia are more likely to have other mental and emotional issues, including: Mood is very unstable, with many low …
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People who have eating disorders may also have an impulse control disorder. An Impulse Control Disorder is defined by many psychologists as the failure to resist an impulsive act or behavior that may be harmful to self or others. For purposes of this definition, an impulsive behavior or act is considered to be one that …
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Eating Disorder Self Test. Take the EAT-26 self test to see if you might have eating disorder symptoms that might require professional evaluation. All answers are confidential.
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