Defining Eating Disorders¹

Eating disorders are serious health conditions characterized by problems affecting how a person thinks about food, eating, weight and body image. These conditions can affect overall health, emotions and the ability to function in daily life. If not treated effectively, eating disorders can become long-term problems and, in some cases, may result in death.

Facts About Eating Disorders in Canada²

Approximately 1 million Canadians have a diagnosed eating disorder.

Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental illnesses that can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, racial/ethnic identity, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.
Eating disorders have the highest overall mortality rate of any mental illness, estimated at between 10-15%.

Common Eating Disorders

The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge-eating disorder.

Anorexia Nervosa³

Anorexia nervosa involves self-starvation and weight loss, resulting in low weight for height and age; it is characterized by a strong fear of gaining weight. There are two subtypes of anorexia nervosa:

• Restricting Type: a person loses weight primarily by dieting, fasting or excessively exercising.
• Binge Eating/Purging Type: a person also engages in intermittent binge eating and/or purging behaviours.

Bulimia Nervosa

A person experiencing bulimia typically switches between dieting (restricting food and caloric intake) and binge eating (consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time, resulting in nausea, discomfort and often feelings of shame or guilt). Bingeing happens at least once a week and is usually followed by efforts to prevent weight gain (e.g. fasting, vomiting, laxative misuse or compulsive exercise). Like anorexia, a person with bulimia nervosa is excessively preoccupied with thoughts of food and weight.

Binge-Eating Disorder (BED)⁴

People with binge-eating disorder have episodes of bingeing in which they consume large quantities of food in a brief period, experience a sense of loss of control over their eating and are distressed by their behaviour, leading to feelings of shame and guilt. Unlike people with bulimia nervosa however, they do not regularly take action to purge themselves of food (e.g. fasting, vomiting, laxative misuse, or compulsive exercise).

Eating Disorder Risk Factors

Many factors may contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Here a few:⁵

• Cultural, societal and family pressures.
• Personality disorders.
• Genetics and biology.
• Childhood sexual abuse.

Treatments for Eating Disorders⁶

Treatments for eating disorders vary depending on the person, the specific condition and the symptoms. As with mood and anxiety disorders, common forms of treatment include psychotherapy (cognitive behavioural therapy), medications and potentially hospitalization.

However, it often also includes nutrition education and treatment for physical conditions associated with the eating disorder. Health problems linked to eating disorders may include:⁷

• Heart problems and high blood pressure.
• Digestive problems, nutrient deficiencies, low bone density (osteoporosis).
• Dental cavities and tooth enamel erosion from frequent vomiting (bulimia).
• Lack of menstruation and infertility/pregnancy-related problems.

How an Eating Disorder Might Show Up in the Workplace⁸

It is not always obvious that a person is living with an eating disorder. In some cases, such as anorexia nervosa, extreme weight loss may be an obvious sign. Here are some signs and symptoms that may indicate an eating disorder:

• Preoccupation with food, weight, appearance and dieting.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Avoiding workplace events where food might be present, withdrawing from co-workers.
• Evidence of purging, including heading to the bathroom right after eating.
• Excessive caffeine consumption.

If you, a colleague or an employee are experiencing a mental health challenge, contact a health care professional to receive a diagnosis and create a treatment plan.