WHAT IS AN EATING DISORDER?
An eating disorder is a serious and complex, mental health condition that affects the physical and mental health of an individual. People with eating disorders have an unhealthy relationship with food, their weight or appearance. Eating disorders are manageable and treatable. But if left untreated, they can cause serious health problems.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF EATING DISORDERS?
There are 3 main types of eating disorders. Some people may have more than one type of eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa
Commonly known as just anorexia, this disorder is not just diagnosed in a person who is generally underweight but one can develop it at any body size. It mainly involves a restricted food diet to the point of self-starvation. It is considered an obsessive desire to lose weight, an individual does not have a sufficient amount of food for their body type and level of activity, which may result in drastic weight loss and low energy and mood.
Bulimia Nervosa
People who have bulimia nervosa binge or eat, or think they ate a large quantity of food over a brief time. After eating, an individual may force themselves to eliminate the calories in some way such as vomiting, using laxatives or intense exercising to purge their body of the food and calories.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
People who have a binge eating disorder experience enforced eating behaviors. They eat or perceive that they have eaten, large amounts of food in a short time. However, unlike bulimia after binge eating food, they don’t try to remove or burn off the calories with exercise or any other way Instead, they may feel uncomfortable and experience regret, shame, guilt and even feel depressed.
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF AN EATING DISORDER
- Frequent mood swings
- Feeling of fatigue, dizziness or fainting
- Thinning hair or hair loss
- Frequent bathroom breaks after eating
- Unexplained weight changes or drastic weight loss.
- Unusual sweating or hot flashes
WHAT CAUSES AN EATING DISORDER?
There are several causes of eating disorders and these may vary from person to person. There is a mix of genetics, environment and social factors that play a role in a person developing an eating disorder.
Some people may develop an eating disorder as a result of the other parts of their life being hard to manage. Hence, they may use extreme ways to restrict food.
An unhealthy relationship, such as an obsession with food can be developed as a coping mechanism for dealing with feelings or painful emotions. Additionally, it may be due to wanting a desired appearance or being insecure about your body type.
Eating disorders are more about finding healthy ways to manage your emotions than about food.
HOW TO MANAGE AND TREAT EATING DISORDERS?
Eating disorders are classified as mental health disorders since they involve unhealthy eating habits that typically stem from emotional issues. The following are the treatments used for eating disorders:
Psychotherapy
A psychologist may assess and apply the best-suited psychotherapy for your condition.
Maudsley approach
This is a kind of family therapy that is aimed at parents of teenagers who are diagnosed with anorexia. Parents actively monitor a child’s eating routine while they adopt healthier habits.
Medications
Some individuals with eating disorders may have other conditions, such as anxiety or depression. Taking antidepressants or other medications can improve these problems.
Nutrition Analysis
With the help of a certified dietitian who specializes in eating disorders, you can help improve your eating habits and create healthy, nutritious meal plans.