354 Chapter 13 Nutrition Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Bulimia nervosa can take quite a toll on health. Frequent vomiting can erode the teeth and irritate the esophagus. Imbalances of body fl uids can damage the heart and kidneys. Binge-eating disorder is a third type of eating disorder. Similar to bulimia nervosa, people with binge-eating disorder often consume large amounts of food in one sitting, sometimes to the point of discomfort. Binge-eating disorder differs from bulimia nervosa, however, because no action is taken to purge the food or avoid weight gain. Binge-eating disorder impacts people physically and socially- emotionally. Physical effects of binge-eating disorder include increased risk factors for obesity, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and high cholesterol and blood pressure. Social-emotional effects include depression and feelings of guilt and lack of control over eating patterns. People with binge-eating disorder may also seclude themselves from friends and family to hide their eating behaviors. Orthorexia nervosa is similar to anorexia nervosa and shows similar symptoms. This eating disorder, however, is characterized by an unhealthy obsession with “healthful eating” that results in severely limiting food choices. A person with orthorexia will eventually experience health problems due to the lack of nutrients that would be present in a variety of foods. People with eating disorders often do not recognize or admit they are ill. As a result, they may strongly resist getting and staying in treatment. The earlier that eating disorders are detected, the better are the chances of recovery without long-lasting medical problems. Treatment of an eating disorder involves a team of health professionals. Physician treatment in a hospital is needed for severe malnutrition, irregular heartbeats, or other serious medical conditions resulting from the severe weight loss. Individual, group, and family counseling is necessary to help understand the problems and learn to cope in healthy ways. Eating disorders are treatable, but success often takes years. Reading Review 1. A _____ is the unit used to measure food energy. 2. Describe basal metabolism. 3. What type of weight-loss advice should be avoided? 4. True or false. There are no health risks for people who are underweight. 5. Identify four types of eating disorders and briefly describe each type.