Do you feel as though you are suffering from food disorders? Asst Prof Lee Huei Yen, Senior Consultant and Head from the Department of Psychiatry at Singapore General Hospital, gives detailed answers to your questions.
Eating disorders are on the rise among young people. More common in females than males, eating disorders are marked by an unhealthy relationship with food. There are three main types of eating disorders – anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. A multidisciplinary treatment, including psychotherapy or counselling, as well as nutritional support, is the most effective.
Asst Prof Lee Huei Yen, Senior Consultant and Head from the Department of Psychiatry at Singapore General Hospital, gives detailed answers to your questions.
Question by ireneneoDear Ms. Lee,For occassional overeating sessions even thou I'm not that hungry, is it considered as binge eating ? If so, is there any ways to curb such eating patterns?
Answered by Asst. Prof. Lee Huei Yen Senior Consultant Department of Psychiatry Singapore General HospitalThe difference between binge-eating and overeating is the lack of control encountered during binges. Patients feel extremely distressed and are unable to control themselves during binge episodes. The best way to prevent overeating or binge eating is to have proper regular meals.
Question by yijuntan26Dear Dr Lee,Will an eating disorder patient who has stopped her menstration at least for 2 years ever get back her periods but how long would that be? Does drinking supplements have any side effects when the patient is on it for at least 2 years yet still could not get back her mensus and healthy weight?Thank you!
Answered by Asst. Prof. Lee Huei Yen Senior Consultant Department of Psychiatry Singapore General HospitalMenstruation will only resume when patients are within a healthy weight range. As long as they are able to achieve and maintain healthy weight, there is a chance that periods will come back. Sometimes, even though patients are at healthy weight, it takes time for periods to resume.Sometimes, one may have to maintain weight for at least 6 months or more for the periods to resume. There are no side effects of taking supplements.
Question by turquoiseDear Prof Lee,I have a relative "A" who is a retiree in her late 60s. Learnt from one of my aunties that she lost another 15kgs by going to gym and just eating only an apple a day!
My auntie told us that "A"'s husband wanted to keep it discreet.
Now that her face is so sunken in and whole body so bony.
How do I go about in getting help for her? Is her condition considered having anorexia nervosa?
Answered by Asst. Prof. Lee Huei Yen Senior Consultant Department of Psychiatry Singapore General Hospital
It is unusual to develop Anorexia nervosa in your late 60s. We need to exclude other medical causes for her weight loss. She should seek help from the polyclinic or her GP, where they will take a full history, and do a full physical examination and investigations.
Question by greatgoodgratitude
Hi Dr Lee, I lost about 7kg between late 2011 and June 2012, and my weight has been around 38-39kg ever since. With a BMI of about 15.5 I am certainly underweight. While I no longer refrain from carbohydrates as I used to (which explains why my weight has remained relatively stable), I find it hard to enjoy food at all. Other than fruits and fresh milk, I find all other foods adulterated by the amount of salt and chemicals used to preserve them. I also find it hard for me to think myself as skinny when there are people around me who are skinnier than me, though they aren't suffering from ammenorhea like I do. While I have been religiously following my recent diet plan which has been working, I dread the idea of being of an acceptable weight. Is it not legitimate to be concerned about the amount of non-foods that are so prevalent in everything we eat nowadays? Also, I understand that everyone has a different genetic makeup and hence different fat composition, but how would I know if I am appropriately fat, or fatter than what I was made to be? Thank you very much for your time.
Answered by Asst. Prof. Lee Huei Yen Senior Consultant Department of Psychiatry Singapore General Hospital
While it is common to have concerns about food, weight and shape issues – in normal people, it does not affect them physically, emotionally or socially. In your case you seem to be emotionally obsessing over food to the extent that you have been physically affected (severely underweight BMI 15.5, amenorrhoeic). You are also right that everyone has a natural body weight/ size depending on several factors such as genetic makeup and bone structure. This should come by if you take your 3 proper meals a day and exercise healthily.
Question by mosmos
Dear Prof. Lee, Few years ago, my mum went for a body checkup at the hospital. The doctor told her that she had high blood cholesterol and told her to watchout on her meals. Since then, my mum has been eating only a meal day with a few pieces of bread and a cup of fresh milk. Is that normal or is she suffering from eating disorder? I asked her whether she will feel hungry and she said "no". Thanks.
Answered by Asst. Prof. Lee Huei Yen Senior Consultant Department of Psychiatry Singapore General Hospital
These are not signs of an eating disorder. Rather, she needs proper nutritional advice from a dietician about having a proper diet for someone with high cholesterol.
Question by octane
Dear Doctor, I am not sure if my daugther is suffering from some kind of eating disorder. Whenever we went to have a hearty buffet meal or eating some oily food such as Fried Hokkien Mee, my daugther when reached home will go to the restroom to vomit. However, at other times, she is perfectly normal after having a meal.
Answered by Asst. Prof. Lee Huei Yen Senior Consultant Department of Psychiatry Singapore General Hospital
Inducing vomiting after any meal is not normal. She would benefit from further assessment by an Eating Disorder specialist.
Question by rsim
Hi Prof.Lee, Im not sure whether my condition is considered as eating disorder. My meals time are not usual as in my breakfast starts at 11+am which most would start to have lunch, and I only get hungry for lunch around 4/5pm+ which is close to dinner time for some. My breakfast is light and I am not working on shift timing, its the 9 to 6 job. And most time I skip dinner as I'm not hungry at all.Please advise me. Thanks.
Answered by Asst. Prof. Lee Huei Yen Senior Consultant Department of Psychiatry Singapore General Hospital
Irregular meal hours and the occasional skipping of meal on its own may not constitute an eating disorder. We would need more information to determine if you have an eating disorder or not.
Question by esim
Hello Prof. Because I intentionally skip dinner meal, I stuff myself during lunch and tea break to keep me going through night time. Is this binge eating?
Answered by Asst. Prof. Lee Huei Yen Senior Consultant Department of Psychiatry Singapore General Hospital
Irregular meal hours and the occasional skipping of meal on its own may not constitute an eating disorder. We would need more information to determine if you have an eating disorder or not.
Question by pocoyosky
Hello, What are the signs of bulimia nervosa? How do we know we fall into one of the categories of eating disorder?
Answered by Admin - Healthxchange.com.sg
Please read this article for more information
http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/healthyliving/DietandNutrition/Pages/The-Truth-About-Bulimia.aspx
Ref: S13
