are eating disorders considered a mental illness?

Answer 1

yeah

Answer 2

Yes. There's a category of eating disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Answer 3

Eating disorders can be caused due to mental illness but also they can be do to a physical problem such as diabetes or ulcers or other things going on. The best thing to keep in mind is to get three balanced meals a day and cut out the junk food. Too much junk food is not good for anyone. If you find you are having problems see your doctor who may recommend a diet change and he can also rule out any physical problems. You may want to ask him to recommend you to a nutritionist or dietitian. Good luck!

Answer 4

Most definitely! A eating disorder is a mental illness because it has everything to do with Psychological damage within the person with the disorder.

Psychological: A variety of psychological factors are likely to influence the development of an eating disorder. These may include:

Perfectionism: People with eating disorders often place high expectations on themselves in every area of life.

Self-esteem: Many anorexics and bulimics report feeling worthless.

Rigid thinking: Individuals with an eating disorder frequently report dealing with life in the extreme. Everything is black and white; there is no gray area.

Control Issues: Many people with eating disorders report feeling they have no control over their lives or environments.

Identity: Anorexics and bulimics are frequently in the midst of a painful struggle of identity, with unanswered questions like: Who and E? What do I like? What do I feel?

Sexuality: A significant number of anorexics and bulimics have had traumatic sexual experiences, frequently sexual abuse or rape.

Other Psychiatric Disorders: Eating disorders frequently coexist with other psychiatric illnesses such as depression, substance abuse or anxiety.

Social: A variety of social factors play a role in the development of eating disorders. The excessive value that is placed on thinness in our society can lead women to believe that their self-worth depends on their body size or appearance. Thinness becomes equated with achievement, intelligence, popularity, and success. This may lead to a persistent struggle to create the "perfect body."

It has also been suggested that an individual's family life may affect a child's risk of developing an eating disorder.

Answer 5

Yes they are. Consult the 4th Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual generally referred to as DSM IV.

Answer 6

I would say yes! In peoples' minds, they are "fat" or have a "problem with appearance", when in fact, they might not be.

In turn, they try to distort the "image" by not eating or puking food up to make them feel "normal".

Not only is this a medical problem, but a mental problem as well.

GREAT QUESTION!

Answer 7

I'd probably describe it as a mental illness...mostly because you don't do it for no reason. You wanna be skinny, you wanna abuse yourself your bf/gf doesn't like you, etc. I have done it for a while but I had reasons. It's most definetly a mental illness. :)

Answer 8

Yes. Over eating and anorexia or bulimia. All are secondary to something else much deeper in the mind....going on. They are manifestations of something the person is not dealing with properly or is not able to deal with....

Answer 9

certain, in a fashion. in elementary words eating issues must be clinically determined although. Self damage and Suicidalism are warning signs of different psychological diseases like Bipolar sickness, Borderline personality sickness and melancholy.

Answer 10

Yes they are...which is why all eating disorder clinics have psychiatrists on staff and it is a part of the recovery process.

Answer 11

Yes they are. The reason being is that the mind distorts your self image, and does not use rational thought to correct imbalances in weight. Go to psyweb.com/ICD/ICD10/f50f59/.jsp this will give you the exact titles and can lead you to other sites......Hope this helps you