Eating Disorders – An Introduction

An unhappy state of mind can lead to a distorted relationship with food. And with the levels of stress and unrealistic personal expectations that come with modern living, more people than ever are falling prey to eating disorders.

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders refer to an individual’s disrupted eating habits; primarily when that individual’s relationship with food and the behaviour around it leads to harmful effects on his/her health. An eating disorder is a serious health concern and can have a physiological and psychological impact on the person, leading to life threatening conditions.

Today, these disorders are being observed in a growing number of people. For the most part, eating disorders are symbolic of deeper-seated mental problems. The perfect physical form has always been hyped and sometimes a person develops an eating disorder as a consequence of an unhealthy pursuit of this hype. Sometimes depression caused by some sort of trauma or history of abuse can also lead to an eating disorder.

Common eating disorders

Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive Overeating are the commonly known eating disorders. Sometimes, an individual struggles with thoughts, emotions and behaviours related to eating disorders without exhibiting all the symptoms of Anorexia or Bulimia; such conditions are termed Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS).

Anorexia is a condition where people literally starve themselves. This is usually a result of a fear of weight gain and increased body fat. In spite of being thin, most anorexics usually believe they are overweight and live in aversion of healthy eating habits, which could lead to a life-threatening situation.

This condition is very dangerous and can lead to anxiety and depression, as well as anaemia, fatigue, hair loss, thyroid dysfunction and damage to various organs.

Bulimia is an eating disorder where the individual overeats and then uses unnatural means to get the consumed food out of his/her system. Misuse use of laxatives, diet pills, over exercising and self induced vomiting are habits cultivated by bulimics to get rid of the food eaten.

Due to over-use of laxatives, many bulimics suffer bowel and intestinal damage. The self-induced vomiting affects the oesophagus and can weaken the teeth. Hair loss and extreme weakness are also seen with people suffering from bulimia.

Overeating is the excessive consumption of food. Akin to addiction, overeating or bingeing may find its roots in a person’s psychological realm. It implies uncontrollable eating habits driving the individual to consume more food than what is considered healthy for the human body. Sometimes, a sense of shame or depression may cause overeating or bingeing. People suffering from compulsive overeating or binge eating often go on a variety of fad diets and also believe that their lives would be better if they lost weight.

Treating eating disorders

Since these disorders are not easy to diagnose, the first step to treating them is to acknowledge their presence. The guidance of a physician is extremely vital to ensure that the affected individual receives the required nutrition while considering other factors that contribute to his/her full recovery. The support of friends and family helps a sufferer deal with psychological triggers that might lead right back to the eating disorder. Additionally, consciously maintaining a positive attitude and awareness of one’s emotional state extends the individual a measure of control and helps live a healthily balanced, active life thereby contributing to a full recovery.

Photograph by Benjamin Earwicker, via sxc.hu