Understanding Eating Disorders and Dietary Choices

Posted on Jan 27, 2025 in Human Nutrition and Dietetics

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by engaging in binge eating at least twice a week, followed by purging, for three consecutive months. Individuals with bulimia nervosa often have an unreasonable concern with their body image and weight. They experience a loss of control during eating (bingeing) and engage in countervailing measures such as vomiting or excessive exercise. Purging behaviors may also include the use of laxatives or other medications.

Bulimia and Anorexia Recommendations

Assign 130% of the calories needed to achieve a positive energy balance for anorexia and 120% for bulimia.

Home Nutritional Guidelines

  • Calories: 1200-1400 kcal/day, increasing by 100-200 kcal every few days.
  • Protein: 15-20% of total kcal, emphasizing high biological value sources.
  • Carbohydrates: 50-55% of total kcal, promoting insoluble fiber to treat constipation.
  • Fat: 25-30% of total kcal, with small increases to promote the overall goal.
  • Provide sources of essential micronutrients.
  • AG: 100% RDA in a multivitamin with minerals.

Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes the following feeding habits:

  • Olive oil as the main cooking fat.
  • Abundance of plant foods:
    • Fruits and vegetables
    • Nuts
    • Cereals and pulses
  • Fish consumption comes under frequent consumption of red meat, milk, and simple sugars.
  • Frequent use of varied spices and condiments (lemon, garlic, and herbs).

Vegetarian Diets

Vegetarian diets are based on the consumption of plant foods, excluding meat, fish, poultry, or food products containing these. There are various types of vegetarian diets:

  • Vegan: A diet based exclusively on food of plant origin, excluding all animal products, including honey and sometimes yeast.
  • Fructivore: A diet that consists solely of fresh fruits, nuts, and berries. In the long term, this diet does not contain all the essential nutrients and can thus only be followed for a short period.
  • Lacto-vegetarian: A vegan diet supplemented with dairy products.
  • Ovo-lacto-vegetarian: The most common type of vegetarian diet, including eggs and dairy products.
  • Chicken-vegetarian: Similar to the lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet but incorporating poultry meat.
  • Pescatarian: A diet that includes fish and seafood in addition to the lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet.

Microbial Diet

This diet is mainly based on grains (40-60%), vegetables (20-30%), and legumes (5-10%). It includes less fruit, nuts, and seeds. Nightshades such as potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, pumpkins, and tropical fruits are avoided. Fish is consumed occasionally (weekly).

Nutritional Considerations for Vegetarian Diets

The lack of intake of dairy foods and/or meat may pose a commitment of some nutrients. Properly planned vegetarian diets are nutritionally adequate and have health benefits in both the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. It is necessary to meet energy needs.

Beneficial Health Effects

  • Low intake (or zero) of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein.
  • Increased intake of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, folate, antioxidants, carotenoids, and phytochemicals.
  • Benefits on:
    • Obesity
    • Ischemic heart disease
    • Cancer
    • Hypertension
    • Type II Diabetes

Diet Groups

  • Normal diet (baseline)
  • Consistency-modified diets
  • Standard therapeutic diets
  • Special therapeutic diets
  • Personalized diets
  • Any diet can be optional:
    • Salt (normal)
    • No salt (very strict)
    • No soluble sugars (diabetes)
    • Without added salt and without soluble sugars (diabetic without salt)