Eating Disorders Diagnosed and Treated at Children's Hospital Colorado

Anorexia nervosa: when thin isn't enough

"Anorexia nervosa" literally means loss of appetite due to nervousness. But the name is misleading. Except in advanced phases of the illness, the person with anorexia nervosa is always hungry. A person with anorexia exercises enormous control to restrict their eating, even in the face of severe physical hunger.

Anorexia nervosa can develop at any age, but it most often begins during the teenage years. The risk of developing an eating disorder often starts when a teenager decides to "get healthier" or "more fit" and follows a diet, but then goes beyond initial weight loss goals and severely limits intake.  Many times the teenager is at a normal weight when they begin to diet. Anorexia nervosa begins to set in when the teen reaches the chosen goal, but still feels they are not thin enough. Even though the person may now be extremely thin, he or she feels fat. So the teen resolves to restrict intake further and may also increase exercise in an effort to increase the rate of weight loss.

Anorexia nervosa affects girls more often than boys, but there has been an increase in the number of males suffering from anorexia nervosa. Guys face similar societal pressures to be strong and "buff," and they also have trouble with self-esteem issues that contribute to the development of eating disorders.  Anorexia nervosa is also becoming more common in children under age 12. 

Time for professional help

Family members may not realize what's happening until the person with anorexia nervosa becomes dangerously underweight. By this time, they have severely limited what they will eat and have restricted their fat intake. Exercise may continue relentlessly, for hours each day, as they adhere to a rigorous schedule that burns up even more unwanted calories. No matter what friends and family might say, a person with anorexia usually denies there is a problem and refuses to give up his or her extreme diet. Without professional intervention, the person will continue to get thinner until their health and life are in serious danger. Learn more about the treatment team at Children's.

The typical person with anorexia nervosa is a perfectionist and an overachiever, excelling in school and involved with lots of activities. Sometimes, the preoccupation with weight starts in response to a stressful event, such as a loss of friends or problems in the family. It may begin as a way to deal with general pressures such as growing up, fitting in socially, doing well in school, or keeping everyone happy in the family.

Bulimia nervosa: the binge–purge syndrome

Bulimia nervosa is a disorder that involves eating large amounts of food and then getting rid of it by vomiting or using laxatives, diuretics or diet pills. Some people with bulimia also purge after a binge by fasting for days or by exercising for hours.

Like anorexia, bulimia often begins with a diet. But the dieter soon feels deprived and panicky and experiences intense hunger urges -- and the cycle of restricting and binge eating sets in. The binge is followed by feelings of guilt about their loss of control and fear of getting fat. Bingeing is usually followed by desperate attempts to get rid of the food just eaten, but purging leaves the teen with bulimia still hungry. The vicious binge/purge cycle begins again. This becomes a routine that is difficult to interrupt.

Dealing with a vicious cycle

At first, overeating and then purging seems like a perfect way to satisfy food cravings without paying the price. But it soon turns into a shameful obsession. People with bulimia nervosa, afraid that others will think their habit disgusting, become secretive and fearful of discovery. They may spend more and more time alone, sometimes going through the binge/purge cycle several times a day.

People with bulimia aren't always physically hungry. They have learned to use food to cope with stress and emotional difficulties. Erratic eating patterns develop in response to using food as a coping tool, which leads to the inability to respond to hunger and satiety in an appropriate manner.

Confronting a hidden problem

People with bulimia usually maintain close to normal weights. They often go through their binges and purges in private, so the condition may be hard to detect.

The typical person with bulimia nervosa is especially concerned with how others see them; they may be emotionally insecure and lack confidence. The individual feels that they live behind a façade: competent and attractive on the outside, but inept and disgusting underneath. Dieting initially begins as a way to feel better about oneself and to win approval from others. Bulimia tends to begin in the teen years and often continues into adulthood.

Phobias and atypical eating disorders in younger children

Younger children can have different reasons (aside for anorexia and bulimia) for failure to gain weight as expected through the elementary school years. Some kids have an extreme fear of vomiting or choking, and may restrict their intake because of this; this results in persistent low body weight and delays in growth and normal development. Our Eating Disorder Program also treats school-age children with these problems by using a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family-Based Therapy. 

Learn more about the Eating Disorder Program at Children's Hospital Colorado.