Eating disorders are usually reduced to disorders of vanity or media culture. However, it’s not that simple. These are complex illnesses associated with psychological and emotional distress where people use food and eating as a means of coping with seemingly insurmountable problems. These disorders offer a mechanism of control in life that seems out of control for people suffering from them. They affect millions of people worldwide, cutting across age, gender, and socio-economic backgrounds. While often misunderstood, these disorders are not merely about food but involve complex psychological, biological, and social factors. Understanding and addressing eating disorders are crucial for fostering empathy, dispelling myths, and guiding individuals towards recovery.
Types of eating disorders
Binge Eating Disorder (BED): BED is characterised by regular episodes of consuming large quantities of food, often in secret and to the point of discomfort. It should not be confused with obesity or with someone who simply overeats. Patients have reported a loss of control due to extremely strong urges to overeat. Unlike bulimia, individuals with BED do not engage in purging behaviours.
Anorexia Nervosa: People with anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to self-imposed starvation and excessive weight loss. It is characterised
by body dysmorphia and undue influence of body weight and shape on one’s self-esteem. Anorexia is not restricted to people who appear “skinny” or “underweight”. One might show all the symptoms of anorexia even at higher body weights while trying to lose weight using extreme measures.
Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia involves recurrent episodes of binge eating followed
by compensatory behaviours such as forced vomiting, excessive exercise, or the use of laxatives to prevent weight gain. Regular vomiting is linked with low potassium levels, which can further lead to cardiac arrests.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): OSFED includes a range of disordered eating patterns that do not fit the specific criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or BED. Despite not fitting neatly into these categories, OSFED is equally serious and requires attention.
Avoidant And Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): People with ARFID
avoid certain foods based on their sensory characteristics (such as texture, taste, smell, or appearance) or negative past experiences associated with specific foods (such as choking or vomiting). Due to limited food choices, individuals with ARFID may experience nutritional deficiencies, which can lead to physical and developmental issues, especially in children and adolescents. This food restriction goes beyond typical picky eating and can significantly impact one’s social, occupational, and daily functioning.
Orthorexia Nervosa: Commonly known as orthorexia, it is a term used to describe a fixation on healthy or “clean” eating. Unlike other eating disorders, orthorexia focuses on the quality of food consumed rather than the quantity. People with orthorexia are obsessed with eating foods that they consider healthy and pure, often avoiding foods they perceive as unhealthy, impure, or processed. This fixation on healthy eating can lead to significant distress and impair daily functioning. Individuals with orthorexia may not recognise the severity of their condition, believing they are simply following a healthy lifestyle. It’s important to note that being health-conscious and choosing nutritious foods is generally a positive behaviour. However, orthorexia becomes a problem when it significantly impairs an individual’s daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. A key distinction is the extreme and unhealthy obsession with purity and quality of food.
Causes and triggers
Eating disorders are complex conditions and are often related to a combination of factors. Some predisposing factors make individuals more susceptible to developing an eating disorder such as:
Adverse childhood experiences, parents separating, getting bullied, moving houses frequently, physical or sexual abuse and other traumatic experiences during childhood, which may have led to a distorted sense of self and body image.
Dysfunctional family dynamics including high levels of criticism or families that prioritise dieting and appearance or who are always critical of their bodies can contribute to body dissatisfaction in their children.
● Neurobiological factors, such as imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin, which play a role in regulating mood and appetite can also lead to the development of an eating disorder.
● Individuals with a family history of eating disorders are at a higher risk of developing similar conditions. Certain genes and genetic traits might predispose someone to have a higher vulnerability to eating disorders.
Low self-esteem, perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, body dissatisfaction, and a history of trauma or abuse can predispose individuals to eating disorders. Negative body image, in particular, is strongly linked to the development of disorders like Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.
Societal pressure to attain a specific body image, especially one perpetuated by the media, can significantly impact some individuals. Certain sports and activities that emphasise weight or appearance, such as ballet, gymnastics, or modelling, can create an environment where individuals are at a higher risk of developing eating disorders.
Warning signs
Recognising the warning signs of eating disorders is crucial for early intervention and support. It’s important to note that individuals with eating disorders may not exhibit all of these signs, and some signs might be subtle. These signs may include rapid weight loss or noticeable fluctuations in weight, obsession with calories and body weight, drastic changes in eating habits, excessive exercising, social withdrawal, spending excessive time looking in the mirror, pinching or measuring body parts, expressing dissatisfaction with one’s appearance, eating in secret, hiding food, or going to the bathroom immediately after meals.
Get help and break the stigma
One of the significant obstacles in the treatment of eating disorders is the stigma attached to them. Many individuals suffer in silence due to fear of judgment and lack of understanding. It’s important to encourage individuals to seek help without shame. Recovery from an eating disorder is a challenging journey that requires professional help, strong social support, and determination. Treatment approaches often include therapy (such as cognitive-behavioural therapy), nutritional counselling, and, in severe cases, medical intervention. The support of family and friends is invaluable, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance that aids in the recovery process. With the right resources and support, individuals battling eating disorders can reclaim their lives, rebuild their self-esteem, and emerge stronger, healthier, and more resilient.
Nutrimend is a diet consultancy clinic founded by Neha Patodia and Nupur Arya. They coach people on how to eat right so that they feel confident in their bodies and achieve their desired goals.
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