DClinPsy Portfolio Volume 1 of 3 - University of Hertfordshire ...

Introduction
Disordered eating in adolescence
Eating Disorders can be viewed on a continuum, with disordered eating not reaching
diagnostic criteria but potentially leading to either an eating disorder or obesity.
Disordered eating refers to unhealthy eating behaviours such as severe caloric restriction
followed by bingeing and the consumption of large quantities of high fat foods, which
increase the risk of obesity (Stice, Presnell, Shaw and Rohde, 2005). Disordered eating
also includes the use of meal supplements for weight loss, skipping meals or laxative,
diuretic and diet pill use, binge eating, exercising obsessively and self-induced vomiting,
(Neumark-Sztainer, 2005). It has been found that those with disordered eating or subclinical
levels of eating disorders in adolescence have an increased risk for developing
Bulimia Nervosa (BN), (i.e. up to a nine-fold increase in risk in late adolescence and a
20-fold increase in adulthood, Kotler, Cohen, Davies, Pine and Walsh, 2001).
Transdiagnostic approach in understanding eating disorders and obesity
Obesity and the different eating disorders can be considered together as overweight
adolescents are at a high risk of using unhealthy weight control behaviours (i.e.
disordered eating, Neumark-Sztainer 2005). Secondly, the commonalities between the
eating disorders are apparent when they are viewed longitudinally as individuals can
cross over from one diagnostic condition to another over time (i.e. about a quarter of
patients with BN have had AN in the past, Agras, Walsh, Fairburn, Wilson and Kraemer,
2000). Thirdly, there is much co-morbidity in relation to mood disturbance across the
eating disorders and obesity (Pryor and Wiederman, 1998).
Studying disordered eating instead of looking at the diagnostic categories of eating
disorders separately, may enable findings to be generalised to the understanding,
prevention and treatment of all forms of eating disorders and obesity.
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