Eating Disorders Inmaculada IbanezCasas Ph D ibanezcasasiuncw edu

Eating Disorders Inmaculada Ibanez-Casas, Ph. D ibanezcasasi@uncw. edu PSY 352 – Health Psychology

Recommended reading Applications of Health Psychology to Eating behaviors: Improving Health Through Nutritional Changes. http: //www. jblearning. com/samples/0763743828/43828_CH 05_LO_5183. pdf

Learning objectives • Health Psychology and eating behaviors • Obesity • Other eating problems

Learning objectives • Health Psychology and eating behaviors • Obesity • Other eating problems

Health Psychology and Eating • Health Psychology = Good nutritional practices + weight control • Biopsychosocial approach • “Science of healthy eating”: • Biopsychosocial influences on food intake • Basic components of healthy eating behaviors • Ways to avoid unhealthy eating practices

Biopsychosocial approach: Biological factors • • • To continue to live To grow when we are young For energy To repair damaged body tissue To prevent disease

Biopsychosocial approach: Psychological factors • Eating = learned behavior • Increased intake under emotional states • Easing uncomfortable feelings with food (learned) • People reward themselves with food

Healthy Eating

Healthy Eating http: //www. choosemyplate. gov

Learning objectives • Health Psychology and eating behaviors • Obesity • Other eating problems

Obesity

Obesity • • 2+ in 3 adults = overweight or obese. 1+ in 3 adults = obese: 44 millions adults 1+ in 20 adults = extreme obesity. 1 in 3 children/adolescents (ages 6 -19) = overweight or obese. • 1+ in 6 children/adolescents (ages 6 -19) = obese. → Rates TRIPLED over the past 20 years Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009– 2010

Obesity • World Map of obesity • Obesity data in US • The youngest Type II Diabetes

Obesity Primary cause of death: • • Heart disease Strokes Cancer Type II Diabetes: • • • Blindness Amputations Kidney failure

Teach every child about food Jamie Oliver Chef, activist TED Prize winner

Promoting healthy eating • Gradual change in eating behaviors • Record and evaluation of eating behaviors • Retrospective • Prospective • Compare food record with “Ideal Diet” (i. e. choosemydiet. com) • Record and evaluation of moods and thoughts • One single change at a time • Look forward, not back • Preventing relapse 16

Learning objectives • Health Psychology and eating behaviors • Obesity • Other eating problems

Other eating problems: Malnutrition • Lack of sufficient nutrients • Faulty eating = hypertension, high cholesterol, kidney stones, osteoporosis, gout • Related to low income, inadequate education, debilitating health conditions • Solutions: economic, political, social, & individual changes

Other eating problems: Anorexia Nervosa • Restriction of energy intake: • • • Counts calories or portions carefully Avoid highly caloric food (dairy, meat, wheat, …) Exercises excessively self-induced starvation and excessive weight loss Thin, pale, emaciated • Intense fear of gaining weight: • • obsessed with eating, food and weight Weights repeatedly (10+ times a day!) • Disturbance in self-perception • feels fat • Social withdrawal • Depressed, lethargic, feeling cold

Other eating problems: Bulimia nervosa • Bingeing + purging • • • Only eat diet or low-fat foods (except binges) Laxatives, diuretics, enemas Excuses to go to bathroom after meals • Loss of control during binge • Fear of weight gain • Disturbance in self-perception • Intensely unhappy with body size, shape, or weight • Exercise most of the time • Social withdrawal

Consequences of eating disorders • • Weakened heart muscles Kidney failure Iron-deficiency anemia Abnormal electrical activity in the brain Amenorrhea (low body fat) Premature osteoporosis (low estrogen levels) Erosion of tooth & rupture of esophagus (vomiting) 21

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Eating Disorders Inmaculada Ibanez-Casas, Ph. D ibanezcasasi@uncw. edu PSY 352 – Health Psychology