Resources

Eating Disorder Education for Individuals and Professionals

Dr. Daganzo dedicates herself to educating her patients and other professionals on eating disorders. She intentionally built a thorough expertise on eating disorders as it became abundantly clear to her how much the medical community needed it. Now, she educates others on how to identify, diagnose, and treat eating disorders. Learn more about the complexities of various eating disorders below. 

Disordered Eating Versus Eating Disorders 

While they exist on the same spectrum, disordered eating and eating disorders are two different conditions. Disordered eating, when left untreated, can be the trigger for a diagnosable eating disorder. Disordered eating can present itself in different ways. Some examples include skipping meals, strict dieting, excessive calorie counting, and relative energy deficiency in sport (REDS). REDS has to do with food intake not aligning with the energy exertion, which is common with athletes. ​

Given disordered eating is often the precursor to an eating disorder developing, it’s important to address it as soon as it presents itself. Disordered eating alone is certainly harmful, but eating disorders are much more damaging to our bodies and minds. Below you will find an overview of the common eating disorders our society struggles with. 

  • Anorexia Nervosa has three distinct features that help medical professionals to recognize the disorder. First, an individual restricts their calories relative to what their body requires. Second, there is an immense fear of weight gain. Third, a form of body dysmorphia is present. Some of the health complications that Anorexia can cause are (but are not limited to):

    • Shortness of breath

    • Low immune system

    • Poor circulation

    • Nutrient deficiencies or malnutrition

    • Cardiac problems, such as bradycardia

    • Demineralization of bones

    • Risk of Refeeding Syndrome

  • Bulimia Nervosa can look a bit differently from one individual to the next, but the commonality is binge eating and purging. Purging is an individual’s attempt to avoid weight gain from the binge. Purging can be any of the following: vomiting, extreme exercise, laxatives, and even insulin misuse. Bulimia causes many of the same health conditions as Anorexia, as well as problems such as:

    • Heartburn

    • Sore throat

    • Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)

    • Vomiting blood

    • Hemorrhoids

  • Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. This doesn’t look like eating one too many cupcakes. Binge Eating Disorder is excessive overconsumption of food paired with extreme guilt or disgust about the behavior. Common health complications that result from Binge Eating Disorder can include:

    • Hypertension

    • Joint pains

    • Sleep apnea

    • Hyperlipidemia

  • Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) can look similar to Anorexia, with similar complications, but the intention behind the restrictive eating is different. With ARFID, the food avoidance is seen commonly with patients on the autism spectrum. It can also stem from a traumatic event around food, such as a choking episode.

  • Many of the eating disorders listed above also have an atypical counterpart. When an eating disorder is atypical, it is much more likely to be dismissed. Often, that dismissal has to do with the short timeframe the individual has been suffering from the eating disorder. Signs to watch out for are significant weight loss in a short time and infrequent purging.

Learn More About Eating Disorders

Early Diagnosis and Treatment Lead to the Best Outcomes 

As is true with any health condition, early diagnosis and treatment of disordered eating and eating disorders leads to the best outcomes. However, identifying eating disorders early is challenging without a strong understanding of the subtle signs of them. Additionally, there is often a lot of shame around an eating disorder, so we cannot rely on patients to proactively bring up their struggle. Therein lies the importance of all medical professionals taking action if they suspect a problem. Should a PCP, Dermatologist, OBGYN, or any other medical professional see a signal, seemingly big or small, it should be notated and further evaluated. 

Dr. Daganzo recognizes the need for continued education on eating disorders within the medical community. Having established a robust understanding of the complexities of eating disorders, she is proud to be able to share her extensive knowledge with her peers through speaking engagements and educational resources. Should you have an interest in partnering with Dr. Daganzo for a speaking engagement or educational seminar, contact her today.

Eating Disorders Don’t Discriminate

There is a common assumption, driven largely by media, that an individual struggling with an eating disorder looks extremely thin. That isn’t always the case. People that struggle with an eating disorder can be overweight, underweight, and may even appear healthy. That is precisely why understanding the attributes of various eating disorders is vital to diagnosing and treating them. 

Want to book a speaking engagement or educational seminar?

Contact Dr. Sally Daganzo today.