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| Doctors find third eating disorder |
| by Celia Hall |
A third type of eating
disorder that could affect the lives of many thousands of
woman, impairing their work and relationships, is started
to be identified, according to a study published today.
The condition, binge-eating disorder, may be behind severe
obesity and alcohol abuse. It joins anorexia and bulimia as
new and growing costs on the health services and its importance
should not be underestimated, the report says.
Cases of anorexia are doubling every 10 years with 200,000
people in Britain, mostly young women, suffering from it or
its close relative, bulimia. The estimated cost to the NHS
is £4.5m a year.
Richard West, author of Eating Disorders, Anorexia Nervosa
and Bulimia Nervosa, from the Office of Health Economics,
says the disorder involves bingeing alone, without compensating
by vomiting or taking laxatives.
Mr West says that the importance should not be trivialised.
It is thought to be associated with "impairment in work
and social functioning, general psychopathology (mental health),
a history of drug/alcohol abuse, severe obesity and treatment
for emotional problems".
Bulimia, "the binge-vomiting" disorder, affects
about 125,000. While the average adult eats 2,000 to 3,000
calories a day, Mr West says, bulimics can take in 15,000
calories in a two or three-hour binge.
He concludes that family therapy has emerged as the most effective
approach for treating anorexia in patients under 19.
©The Independent
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