More Topics

CVS / Eating Disorders / Impact on Emotions / ANS / Rare Causes of GP / Pain Rx / Immune Dysfunction

Eating Disorders

Persistent and chronic digestive symptoms of nausea, bloating, vomiting, regurgitation or acid reflux, abdominal pain and other problems of bad digestion are often intensified one or two hours after eating by problems of nerve-gut (motility) disorders.

It is no wonder then that individuals suffering from delayed gastric emptying, functional dyspepsia and other gut-motility disorders begin to consider food as the enemy. Many will begin to avoid food in order to help control symptoms. These are people who want to eat, but cannot. Unfortunately, many of these individuals—especially adolescent females—are misdiagnosed with an eating disorder. This is not an eating disorder.

Much of the problem stems from the fact that many gastroenterologists do not have access to good diagnostic tools that would detect an upper digestive motility problem, as well as to the medical community’s failure to clearly articulate definitions and diagnostic criteria for these upper digestive motor disturbances.

Furthermore, many gastroenterologists were taught in medical school that problems of upper digestive distress are psychologically stress-related. Even though evidence is emerging to counter these beliefs and although better diagnostic tools are now available, many specialists still discredit the use of such tools.