Pica (which is Latin for "magpie",
a bird that will eat almost anythingi) is an eating disorder characterized by
uncontrollable cravings for eating, chewing, or licking non-food items or foods
containing no nutrition including, but not limited to, chalk, pencil eraser, hair,
dirt, clay, stones, fingernails, paper, coal, wood, sand, light bulbs, paint chips,
baking soda, plastic, plaster, starch, glue, rust, ice, coffee grounds, burnt
matches and cigarette ashes.
Who has Pica?
Generally,
this eating disorder occurs in all ages, especially in pregnant women and small
children. Pregnant women usually stop their cravings for non-food items and food
containing no nutrition after the birth of their child and pica symptoms disappear.
Children who are disabled oftentimes suffer from this eating disorder. Pica is
also much more common in developing countries and rural areas than elsewhere.
Complications of Pica:
eating non-food
objects can lead to nutritional deficiencies
certain items, such as paint
chips, may contain toxic substances, and eating them can lead to poisoning
eating
objects that cannot be digested, such as stones, can cause constipation or blockages
in the digestive tract, including the intestines and bowels
hard or sharp
objects can cause tears in the lining of the intestines
eating very hard
objects can damage teeth
bacteria or parasites from dirt or other objects
can cause serious infections which may damage the kidneys or liver
Treatment:
Because of the inherent danger in eating non-food items,
it is extremely important that a person experiencing Pica be taken to a doctor,
and get treated promptly. Therapy and psychological treatment may also be needed.
Do you need more informtion? Check out these links:
ANRED (Anorexia Nervosa And Related Eating Disorders, Inc.) - http://www.anred.com/pica.phpl
- Here you will find some more specific information and interesting facts
about Pica.
Kids Health For Parents - click
here to get to the pica information area - This website will give you very
useful information on children with Pica, why they turn to non-food items and
when to call the doctor.
Healthy Place Eating Disorders Community
- click
here to get to the pica information area - This websites provides information
on everything there is to know about Pica: Background, Pathophysiology, Frequency,
Mortality/Morbidity, Race, Sex, Age, History, Physical, Causes, Medication, Treatment
Options (Medical Care, Consultations, Diet,) and Prognosis.
Prader-Willi
Syndrome is a birth defect, which means that a person is born with this condition.
This disorder is believed to be caused by an abnormality in the genes that occurs,
which does not have to be run in the family.
Sufferers from
Prader-Willi Syndrome experience an insatiable appetite and involuntary urge to
eat constantly. This insatiable appetite is caused by a defect in the hypothalamus
- a part of the brain that regulates hunger - that causes the person to never
actually feel full.
"I am always hungry. I want to eat everything
and all the time. My parents had to work hard to keep my weight down and would
lock the kitchen"
"It took me a long time to learn how to walk,
but when I was able to I would always go to the fridge and get something to eat."
Behaviour,
Signs, Symptons
Not all of these symptons have to be experienced:
unsatisfiable appetite - involuntary urge to eat constantly
stealing
food
hiding food
eating pet food
obesity
behaviours
such as picking the skin
mental retardation
learning disabilities
characteristic behaviour problems
psychoses
sleep disorders
rigidity
stubbornness
Individuals
with Prader-Willi Syndrome are generally very friendly and pleasant people. However,
if they become upset, it is difficult for them to settle down. It is very hard,
if not impossible, for them to control their temper.
Physical
Problems
higher threshold for pain
delayed motor development
abnormal growth - short stature
speech impairments
incomplete
sexual development
poor muscle tone
dental problems
obesity
diabetes type two
If the weight is controlled,
the life expectancy of a person with Prader-Willi Syndrome may be normal.
Treatment
It
is important to get the proper diagnosis early and to find medical and emotional
support.
Unfortunately, no appetite suppressant has worked
without exception for people with this disorder. Most sufferers must be on an
extremely low-calorie diet all their lives. In addition, their enviroment must
be designed in a way so that they have very limited access to food. For example,
many families lock the kitchen or the fridge.
Who has
Prader-Willi Syndrome?
This disorder is a complex genetic
disorder and a very rare condition. Typically infected people have no history
of the history in their family and only very rarely it is inherited.
Do
you need more informtion? Check out these links:
Prader-Willi
Syndrome Assiciation- An organisation of parents and others who
are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those with Prader-Willi Syndrome
with providing information, education, and support services.
Healthy
Place Eating Disorders Community - click
here to get to the prader-willi syndrome information area - Here you will
get answers to all the questions you may have about this rare eating disorder:
What is Prader-Willi Syndrome exactly, how common is it, how can it be diagnosed
and does early diagnosis help, what causes the appetite, do medications work,
what does the future hold for people with this disorder and more.
Night
Eating Syndrome is characterized by putting off eating until late in the day,
and then binging on food at night. Problems with falling asleep or staying asleep
are usually experienced. Sufferers with night eating disorder may also leave their
bed at night in order to eat.
Signs, Symptons, Behaviours
little or no appetite for breakfast
reduced daytime hunger
first
meal is delayed for several hours after waking up
being upset about how
much was eaten the night before
more food is eaten after dinner than
during that meal
feeling of anxiety, guilt, shame and not enjoyment while
eating
often accompanied by depression and modiness
low self-esteem
trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
waking up frequently
and often followed by continual eating throughout evening hours
Who
has Night Eating Syndrome?
This type of eating disorder
is commonly seen in overweight and obese people.
Health
Risks
Sufferers from night eating disorder are at risk
for the same health complications as compulsive overeaters.
Treatment
Night
Eating Syndrome can be treated and cured. A doctor and/or a counselor can help
battle this eating disorder.
The Difference between Night
Eating Syndrome and Binge Eating and Bulimia
Sufferers
from night eating disorder consume relatively small snacks with high calorie content
at night throughout the evening hours. Individuals with binge eating disorder
or bulimia have very large and infrequent binges.
Do you
need more informtion? Check out these links:
Healthy Place
Eating Disorders Community - click
here to get to the night eating syndrome information area - Here you will
find some more information and interesting facts about Night Eating Syndrome.
Today's Dietitian - click
here to get to the night eating syndrome "Wait Until Dark" information
area - This website provides you with everything there is to know about this disorder,
plus some more online resources website adresses.
Sleep Eating Syndrome
(or Nocturnal Sleep-Eating Disorder) is a combination of a sleeping and an eating
problem. Sufferers from this disorder have episodes of frequent sleep walking,
during which they will eat large quantities of food (as well as non food items)
while asleep, even prepare and cook meals, and are not aware of what they are
doing at that time.
"When I woke up in the morning, I had frosting in my
hair, chocolate on my face and my stomach ached."
"In the morning, there
were choclate bar wrappers and cookie boxes on the floor. I must have eaten again
during the night, but I have no memories of doing so."
Behaviour,
Symptons, Warning Signs
no or very little hunger in the morning
rarley they remember their night binges
when they are asleep,
their throat is more relaxed, and therefore there is a danger of choking
some
victims even cook meals while they are asleep, which puts them in danger from
fire and sharp utensils
they are at risk of self-injury during sleepwalking
injury from preparing foods with knives, utensils, or hot cooking surfaces
risk of starting a fire
feel anxious, tired, stressed and angry
daytime sleepiness
sleep disruption
weight gain
tend to be overweight or obese
Health Risks
Sufferers
from sleep eating disorder are at risk for the same health complications as compulsive
overeaters, with the added dangers of sleepwalking.
Who
has Sleep Eating Syndrome?
Sleep Eating Syndrome is not wide-spread.
Many sufferers with this disorder are overweight or obese. About two thirds of
the victims with this disorder are women. Very often, but not always, individuals
with sleep eating disorder suffer from other problems as well such as alcoholism,
drug abuse, diabetes or other sleep disorders.
Treatment
Oftentimes
sleep eating is the obvious sign of an underlying problem. Sufferers are usually
overweight and dieting. Sleep Eating Syndrome can be treated and can be cured.
A doctor and/or a counselor can help battle this eating disorder.
Do
you need more informtion? Check out this link:
Healthy Place
Eating Disorders Community - click
here to get to the sleep eating syndrome information area - Here you will
get answers to all the questions you may have about sleep eating syndrome: what
it exactly is, who it gets, why people can not remember their binges, if there
is any treatment and what to do if you think you have sleep eating syndrome.
When Big Isn't Big
Enough - Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder (also known as "Bigorexia" and "Reverse
Anorexia") is the opposite of Anorexia Nervosa. The main characteristic of this
disorder is the thought that no matter how hard you try your body is never muscular
and big enough. People with this disorder feel physically inadequate and are obsessed
about being too small, frail, weak and undeveloped. Even if they have good muscle
mass, they believe their muscles are inadequate. People with this disorder are
on a very strict "very high protein - very low fat" diet and are fixated
on eating the right things and adjust their entire life around gaining mass.
Who
has Bigorexia?
Men and women suffer from this disorder
but more males than females have bigorexia. This condition is very common among
body builders - but that does not mean that every weight lifter has this disorder.
Behaviour Changes, Signs, Symptons
In
almost all cases, people with muscle dysmorphia are not small at all. Many have
well-developed musculature, and some even compete in body building competitions.
People with this disorder work out several hours a day and cannot or
will not stop their excessive exercise routine even when they are injured.
In
order to change their appearance it is not uncommon for people with bigorexia
to take sterroieds.
Sufferers may develop an eating disturbance in their
pursuit of a flawless muscular body shape. They eat very high protein and very
low fat foods to maximize muscle mass and definition.
People with muscle
dysmorphia tend to avoid restaurant food because it threatens their strict, high-protein
diets.
The constant preoccupation with perceived smallness, and attempts
to get bigger, interfere with school and career.
This disorder starts
to control people's lives and robs friendships and romantic relationships of spontaneity
and enjoyment.
Some sufferers give up their jobs, friends and family to
pursue bodybuilding
Sometimes people that struggle with bigorexia leave
their families because their spouse is not able to deal with the situation that
their partner is only putting energy into bodybuilding and not other family issues.
Sometimes sufferers give up or change their jobs so they can spend more
hours at the gym.
Since people with muscle dysmorphia are exceedingly
self-conscious at all times, they cannot relax and enjoy life without worrying
about how other people may be seeing, and criticizing, the perceived smallness.
People with this disorder tend to be depressed and get more and more
isolated over time.
No matter how muscular the person becomes, he or
she still feels slim, weak and lean.
Some sufferers are ashamed to show
their bodies in public because they believe they are too small.
Many
people that struggle with bigorexia wear big baggy clothes in order to hide and
cover their perceived inadequacy.
Treatment
Some
people with this muscle dysmorphia don't admit having a problem, Some resist getting
treatment, and some admit they are afraid of giving up the excessive exercise
and supplements. About half of all people with muscle dysmorphia refuse help and
continue their unhealthy practices. For those that do seek treatment, the most
promising method includes receiving simultaneous treatment from a sports medicine
physician and counselor who works with athletes. People with bigorexia need
to learn that self-worth does not depend solely on body image.
Overcoming Night Eating Syndrome A Step-By-Step Guide To Breaking The Cycle by K. Allison, A. Stunkard, S. Thier
Publisher:
New Harbinger Publications Publication Date: May 1, 2004 ISBN:1-572-243-279
The statistics are powerful and alarming: Perhaps as
many as 6 million Americans suffer from night eating syndrome — a newly identified
eating disorder which describes behavior patterns in which an individual obsessively
consumes more than half of his or her daily caloric intake after eight o’clock
in the evening.
This book, the first written specifically to people struggling
with night eating syndrome, offers a step-by-step strategy for managing and overcoming
this disorder.
If you suffer from Night Eating Syndrome (NES), you know
that it is disruptive to your life and damaging to your health, but only recently
have health providers and the public begun to recognize it as a serious problem
needing treatment. (first sentence)
EDNOS Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified: Scientific
and Clinical Perspectives on the Other Eating Disorders by Claes Norring
& Bob Palmer
Publisher: Routledge Publication Date: May
23, 2005 ISBN: 1-583-911-634
This
professional book covers all eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS)
that do not fall into either of the two main diagnostic groups (anorexia nervosa
and bulimia nervosa).
The book adresses topics such as history of ED classification,
EDs and type 1 diabetes, obesity and binge eating, atypical eating and female
athletes, EDNOS, and much more. Although these less well-known conditions are
common and can be very severe, they are often neglected. The topic is presented
from a range of perspectives, and investigates the nature, cause, and treatment
of these disorders.
Prader-Willi Syndrome: Coping With the Disease -
Living With Those Involved by Urs Eiholzer
Publisher:
S. Karger Publishers Publication Date: May 31, 2005 ISBN: 3-805-578-466
Over the past years, research into the
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and its treatment options has progressed enormously
and new insights have greatly improved the quality of life of those affected.
"Most importantly, it is vital always to remember
the joys you can experience with your child!"
This
is a book especially for parents, which includes such areas as the main characteristics,
genetic causes and diagnosis, topics like psychomotor development and intelligence,
main forms of treatment and treatment strategies.
This easily understandable book is specifically suited
for non-professionals and presents the clinical picture of the syndrome, its genetic
cause, state-of-the-art research results and treatment options. The text is illustrated
with graphics and complemented by an abundance of pictures. This publication addresses
not only the family members of the affected children, but also those who have
contact with them – from the neighbor to the pediatrician.
Truth
Behind A Pregnant Woman's Food Craving and How to Control It - by Elysiana
Canlas - Cravings are feelings desiring food combinations which women either
do not normally eat or may even stomach under usual eating conditions. In a survey
conducted recently, expectant ...
Dirt:
It's What's For Dinner - by Dawn Worthy - Did you know that there are
people who eat dirt and clay? Eww! Yuck! I can imagine it and boy howdy is it
disgusting. Now that I have that off my chest, let’s talk about why people do
this.
Gastric Bypass Surgery-What
You Should Know - by John Mancini - Obesity is considered to be a chronic
illness in America today. This means that the people affected cannot lose weight
through traditional means; diet and exercise ...
