Episode #18 - Understanding Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are an area of mental health that are least understood by the general public. Although there are a number of eating disorders, today’s podcast will focus on the most dangerous and commonly known, specifically anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

According to the Mayo Clinic, anorexia nervosa, or anorexia as it is commonly called, is a “potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight or shape”. It includes extreme calorie restrictions, excessive exercise, the use of laxatives and diet aids and self-induced vomiting after eating. People with anorexia are underweight to the point of serious health problems, up to and including death by starvation.

Again according to the Mayo Clinic, bulimia nervosa, or simply bulimia, is a serious, potentially life-threatening disorder that includes “episodes of binging and purging (with a) feeling of lack of control over eating.” Bulimia is characterized by the consumption of a large amount of food, often deliberately high caloric food, in a short period of time. Intense shame and even panic about gaining weight follows, which is resolved by self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise and the misuse of laxatives. People with bulimia often have periods of self-starvation, which contribute later to episodes of binging. People with bulimia are usually normal weight or slightly overweight.

In this episode, Tricia speaks with Dr. Julie Orris. Julie is the owner and Executive Director of Evidence Based Therapy Orange County and one of the founders of Evidence Based Therapy Partners. Julie is a licensed psychotherapist and consultant in a number of evidence-based treatment modalities. She is certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy by the Linehan Board of Certification and is a Diplomate with the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Her specialties include self-injury, suicidal thinking and eating disorders, amongst others

In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children’s mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters.

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