Eating disorders
Eating disorders are mental health conditions that are associated with disturbances in eating or eating-related behaviours. At times, disturbances in body image are also experienced.
Our findings
The three main eating disorders are anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED). People with eating disorders often find their conditions distressing, have poor quality of life and other mental health conditions, including depression or anxiety.
BN is characterised by frequent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours, such as vomiting and laxative use to prevent weight gain. Body image disturbance is also characteristic of BN, which (unlike AN) is not associated with low body weight.
BED, on the other hand, involves recurrent episodes of binge eating, but compensatory behaviours are not used to prevent weight gain, nor is there a disturbance of body image.
Key findings
1 million Australians have an eating disorder
1 in 10 with BN is male
Common in mid-late adolescence
Prevalence
Over one million people in Australia currently have an eating disorder with one in 10 of those with BN is male. The gender ratio is less skewed in BED, with a third of affected people being men. The onset of eating disorders tends to occur in mid to late adolescence or early adulthood.
Possible causes
The causes of eating disorders remain unknown. Psychological, sociocultural and biological factors are thought to contribute to these conditions.
However, unlike BN, which is more prevalent in white females from industrialised societies, BED does not appear to be strongly associated with sociocultural influences, and is seen across different races and ethnic minorities.
Symptoms
Symptoms of BN include:
- binge eating
- compensatory behaviours to prevent weight gain
- body image disturbance
Symptoms of BED include binge eating without compensatory behaviours or body image disturbance.
Treatment options
Treatment options vary depending on the type of eating disorder. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is typically recommended for BN and BED. Medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are also sometimes useful.
Contact the Centre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences
We work with academia, industry and government to form meaningful and impactful partnerships. For more information, please email cmhbs@swinburne.edu.au.