Eating Disorders and Alcohol Abuse Essay - 2965 Words

Eating Disorders and Alcohol Abuse The relationship between eating disorders and alcoholism has become a widely researched topic only in the last fifteen years. Since 1985, there have been an increasing number of research and case studies substantiating a correlation between these two behavioral and addictive disorders. Alcoholism affects nearly 14 million United States citizens (http://silk.nih.gov/silk/niaaa1/publication/booklet.htm ). The four basic elements of this disease include a craving for, loss of control over, physical dependence on, and tolerance to alcohol (http://silk.nih.gov/silk/niaaa1/publication/booklet.htm). Unfortunately, there is no cure for alcoholism, although various forms of treatment have become available.†¦show more content†¦The mean age of the subjects was 32 years and 7 months and they were equally divided among the upper two social classes. The goal of this research was to examine the past and present eating habits of female alcoholics to determine whether or not a correlation b etween the two disorders existed. Two methods of research were used to evaluate the subjects: an interview and a questionnaire. One of the authors interviewed each subject individually. The interview consisted of two parts: (1) a detailed assessment of past and present eating behaviors and (2) an evaluation of drinking patterns. The first part of the interview based eating disorders on a variety of patterns, including binge-eating behaviors that lasted for at least 6 months. The second part of the interview used a pre-determined interview created by Stockwell et al. to determine levels of alcohol dependence. The questionnaire consisted of the Eating Attitudes Test, which is a standardized measure of anorectic and bulimic behavior (Lacey et al., 1986: pp. 390). The results of this study supported a correlation between past or present eating disorders and alcoholism. The sample had mild to moderate dependence on alcohol, ranging from continuous to fluctuating intake. 11 members of the sample had experience with binge eating. Nine of the patients had a history of purging to deter weight gain. All of the patients were menstruating and all but one were in normal weight ranges (Lacey et al., 1986). Although sixShow MoreRelated Eating Disorders And Substance Abuse Essay1636 Words   |  7 PagesEating Disorders And Substance Abuse Common Eating Disorders: The two most common eating disorders are bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Both disorders, primarily affect young women, therefore the majority of the research on eating disorders has been done with women subjects. The onset of bulimia is between adolescence and early adulthood while the onset of anorexia is between early and late adolescence. Not only is the onset different but the disorders are unique. Bulimia nervosa isRead MoreEating Disorders And Anorexia Nervosa951 Words   |  4 PagesEating disorders are a sickness that can come from psychological issues and it can disrupt the everyday diet. â€Å"A person with an eating disorder may have started out just eating smaller or larger amounts of food, but at some point, the urge to eat less or more spiraled out of control.† The common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. 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Anorexia nervosa is when someone see’s themselves as an overweight person, so they watch what they eat since, they haveRead MoreEating Disorders And Body Image1613 Words   |  7 Pages Eating disorders and body image Cenia Xu Father Michael Mcgivney Catholic Academy Effects of Eating disorders have on teenagers Every day, teenagers are surrounded by different messages from different sources that impact the way they feel about the way they look. For some, poor body image is a sign of a serious problem: an eating disorder. Eating disorders are not just about food.The eating disorders containRead MoreBulimia Nervosa Is An Eating Disorder1420 Words   |  6 PagesBulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that consists of the distortion on one’s body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight. It involves binge eating which is the rapid ingesting of large amounts of food, commonly followed by vomiting, fasting, or purging that is accompanied by depression. An individual with bulimia will attempt to avoid weight gain by vomiting or using laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. It is common to see a bulimic individual restrict their food intake or exercise excessivelyRead MoreSex, Drugs, And Pressure1065 Words   |  5 Pagesmixed alcohol and drugs before intercourse. â€Å"In a random survey of 1,200 adolescents and young adults ages 13 to 24 throughout the United States, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 81 percent reported that they have had intercourse, and 50 percent agreed that people their age mix alcohol and drugs a lot.† (Malick) I’ve been talking about teens that made the choice to have sex but most teens don’t make that choice. Some are taken advantage of and raped because of drugs and alcohol. STD’sRead MoreA Broad Spectrum Of Eating Disorders1066 Words   |  5 Pagesbroad spectrum of eating disorders. Bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN) (two basic types, restrictive (ANR) and binge-purge (ANBP)), and binge eating disorder (BED). People with eating disorders often have a morphed perception of their body. Often they feel the need to be perfect, and when they do not look perfect to themselves they feel great shame. Which in effect causes suicide ideation, because they feel they do not deserve to live. It appears that eating disorders may carry the highestRead MoreRelationship Between Mental Health And Addiction1470 Words   |  6 PagesIf you or someone you love is seeking treatment for a substance abuse related disorder in addition to a psychiatric disorder, you will come across two terms in your research: co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis. Right off you may be more concerned about simply getting help for your addiction. Maybe it has caused you to lose your job and your family is in tatters. It s important to note that when substance abuse and mental illness co-occur specialized treatment is needed. First, however, youRead MoreEffects Of Advertisements On American Youth1458 Words   |  6 Pagesbody looks like. Today commercials showcase unrealistic versions of the average male and female, causing an increase in eating disorders each year. Advertisements also influence young people by convincing them that it is okay to drink and that there will be no consequences. Advertisements do no t show the long term effects that can happen to an individual when they start abusing alcohol; such as the need for blood transfusions or having seizures. They only show the scene where people seem to be havingRead MoreWhy Athletes Are Becoming An Elite Athlete909 Words   |  4 Pagesathlete’s health whether it be from alcohol and/or drug abuse, and eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or other disordered eating patterns. Both problems could be detrimental to the individual’s health and both raise ethical dilemmas for a coach to consider. In this paper we will further discuss the issues associated with both drug or substance abuse and eating disorders in athletes. The first topic that will be discussed is an eating disorder known as Anorexia nervosa. Anorexia