disordered eating and obesity

Question 1

what is obesity?

Answer 1

complex chronic disease characterised by dysfunctional or excess body fat that impairs health
NB - not considered to be a psychological disorder

Question 2

what does BMI not take into consideration?

Answer 2

-age
-gender
-body frame
-wait circumference
-fat deposited around the abdomen

Question 3

what are the causes of obesity?

Answer 3

• there is evidence for the heritability of obesity
  -environmental factors eg food options, availability of physical activity opportunities
  -dietary habits
  -physical inactivity

Question 4

what are examples off factors that contribute to the obesogenic environment?

Answer 4

-lack of school facilities eg few playing areas, few cycle routes etc
-high energy foods promoted via advertising, school based marketing
-familly - excess weight in parents, parents health knowledge and budgeting, shopping and cooking skills
-education & information - school lessons on nutrition, lifestyles and cooking etc

Question 5

what is an obesogenic environment?

Answer 5

• refers to an environment that makes it easier for people to gain weight and become overweight or obese

Question 6

what are examples of mental health implications of obesity?

Answer 6

• stigma
  -blame for obesity to the obese person
  -substandard health care and delayed health care utilisation
• can promote poor self image, low self esteem , embarrassment

Question 7

what are examples of physical implications of obesity?

Answer 7

-CVS disease
-hypertension
-type 2 diabetes
-joint trauma
-deep vein thrombosis
-colon cancer

Question 8

what are the 3 treatments obesity?

Answer 8

1. behavioural therapy - behaviour change for diet and exercise
2. pharmacological therapy
3. surgery

Question 9

what are the 2 groups of drugs for the treatment of obesity?

Answer 9

• 1 group acts on the git system - reducing fat absorption etc
  2- act on CNS to suppress appetite

Question 10

when are drugs for obesity recommended?

Answer 10

ONLY when other approaches have failed - not prescribed for more than 3 months and should be stopped if weight reduction is not achieved

Question 11

what are the surgical treatments for obesity?

Answer 11

gastric by pass - reducing stomach capacity
-within 12-18 months, most people lose between 50 and 70 % of their excess body weight

Question 12

what factors influence eating behaviours?

Answer 12

1. biological eg gender, appetite and age
2. social - family dynamics and social pressure
3. psychological - weight beliefs, low self esteem and negative value judgements

Question 13

what is an ED?

Answer 13

a mental health condition characterised by abnormal eating habits and a preoccupation with food, weight and body shape

Question 14

describe the prevalence rates of ed’s

Answer 14

• most prevalent in females aged 15-40 years
  -1-4% of adolescents

Question 15

what is anorexia nervosa (AN) characterised by?

Answer 15

1. restriction of energy intake relative to requirements leading to low body weight in context pop age
2. intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
3. disturbance in the way in which ones body weight or shape is experienced

Question 16

what is atypical AN?

Answer 16

all of the criteria for AN are met, except that despite significant weight loss, the persons weight is within or above the normal range

Question 17

how is AN classified?

Answer 17

-mild
-moderate
-severe
-exteme

Question 18

what are examples of warning signs with AN?

Answer 18

-significant weight loss
-distorted body image
-intense fear and anxiety about gaining weight
-feelings of guilt after eating
-high levels of anxiety and or depression
-low self esteem
-food rituals
-excessive and compulsive exercise

Question 19

what are examples of health complications with AN?

Answer 19

-amenorrhea - stopping of menstrual cycle
-abnormally slow or irregular heart beat
-anaemia
-muscle loss and weakness

Question 20

what is the criteria for bulimia nervosa? - there are 5

Answer 20

• recurrent episodes of binge eating (eating in a discrete amount of time, and sense of a lack of control)
  -recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviour in order to prevent weight gain eg self induced vomiting, laxative , fasting etc
  -binge eating and compensatory behaviors occur at least once a week for 3 months
  -self evaluation is influenced by body shape and weight

Question 21

how is BN classified?

Answer 21

• mild - 1-3 episodes of inapparoate compensatory behaviours per week
  -moderate - 4-7 “””
  -severe - 8-13 episodes
  -extreme - greater than 14 episodes

Question 22

what are examples of warning signs for BN?

Answer 22

-bingeing and purging
-secretive eating and or missing food
-visiting the bathroom after meals
-weight fluctuations
-excessive and compulsive exercise regimes
-abuse of laxatives, diet pills etc
-heart burn etc

Question 23

what are examples of health complications for BN?

Answer 23

-electrolyte imbalances which can lead to irregular heart beat and seizures
-degydration
-vitamin and mineral deficiencies
-GIT problems
-chronic irregular bowel mats and constipation

Question 24

what 3 components does treating AN and BN involve?

Answer 24

-restoring the person to a healthy weight
-treating the psychological issues
-reducing or eliminating behaviours or thoughts that lead to disordered eating and preventing relapse

Question 25

what is the SCOFF questionnaire?

Answer 25

screening tool designed to help identify individuals who may be at risk for an eating disorder, particularly anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.