by Norman Munro

Created on: August 16, 2009   Last Updated: August 17, 2009

Eating disorders all have different symptoms, but basically, they each result from the fact that the individuals who suffer from them have difficulty separating their emotions from their eating habits. Indeed, they may even choose to use their eating habits to express their emotions and to 'communicate' with those around them. The way and the amount that they eat are seriously affected, and the long term effects can be devastating and sometimes fatal.

In the United States, the normal criteria for the diagnosis for eating disorders are contained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. In Europe, slightly different diagnostic criteria are uses.

DSM-IV recognises two distinct eating disorders - anorexia nervosa (anorexia), bulimia nervosa (bulimia). It has a further classification for "Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified" into which falls binge eating syndrome, a commonly diagnosed condition.

The diagnosis of Anorexia nervosa can be made if the patient fits the following criteria (Adapted from DSM-IV TR)):

Refusal to keep body weight at or above that which is regarded as an acceptable minimum for age or height age and height: Weight loss causing body weight of <85% of that expected or failure to gain weight due to normal growth, resulting in body weight less than 85% of that expected. Anxiety about being perceived as fat, even though under weight. Distorted perceptions of body image, or denial of the existence of illness or the seriousness of current low body weight. Amenorrhea (for at least three menstrual cycles) in girls and women.

Anorexia nervosa has two sub-types, which can be present at different stages of the illness in the same person. Firstly, the "restricting" type, in which weight loss is achieved by severely restricting calorific intake without resort to laxative use or self-induced vomiting, and then the "Binge Eating-Purging" type, in which the sufferer may eat large amounts of food then attempts to eliminate the consequences by abusing laxatives.

Bulimia nervosa has the following diagnostic criteria (adapted from DSM-IVTR):

Recurrent episodes of binge eating characterized by both: Eating, within a given period of time), an amount of food that is significantly larger than most people would during a similar period A feeling of inability over eating during the episode, identified by a belief that what is being eaten cannot be controlled. Frequent recurring

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