Eating disorders affect several million people at any given time, most often women between the ages of 12 and 35. There are three main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.
An Eating Disorder is a deviation from regular eating habits, as the term "disorder" implies. It refers to a group of psychological illnesses characterised by irregular or disturbed eating habits.
Unhealthy eating habits are a sign of an Eating Disorder. This disorder causes people to be excessively anxious about their calorie consumption or weight gain. They feel guilty about their weight gain and are obsessed with their appearance.
Disrupted eating patterns and weight obsession are the result of restricting food intake and over-exercising.
What is an Eating Disorder: Types, Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment & Therapy
Eating disorders are behavioural conditions characterised by severe and persistent disturbances in eating behaviours, as well as distressing thoughts and emotions associated with them. Conditions that affect physical, psychological, and social function can be extremely serious. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorder, pica, and rumination disorder are all types of eating disorders that affect the body.
Up to 5 percent of the population is affected by eating disorders, which most often manifest in adolescence and early adulthood. But they can all occur at any age and affect any gender. Women are more susceptible to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in particular. Anxiety about eating or the consequences of eating certain foods is often associated with eating disorders. Consumption restrictions or avoidance of certain foods, binge eating, purging by vomiting or laxative abuse and compulsive exercise are all symptoms of eating disorders. Some of these behaviours may resemble those of an addict.
In addition to eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and alcohol and drug abuse problems are common co-occurring conditions. However, eating disorders can also affect people who have no family history of the condition, as evidenced by genetics and heritability studies that have been conducted. Psychological, behavioural, nutritional, and other medical complications should be addressed during treatment. This can include heart and gastrointestinal problems, as well as other potentially fatal conditions. Treatment ambivalence, denial of an eating or weight problem, or anxiety about changing eating patterns are all common. The good news is that those with eating disorders can regain their emotional and psychological health with the help of proper medical care.
Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa :
There are two main characteristics of anorexia: self-starvation and weight loss. It is the most lethal psychiatric diagnosis other than opioid use disorder. Weight for height is measured by the body mass index (BMI), which is typically under 18.5 in anorexia nervosa patients as adults.
A deep-seated fear of gaining weight or becoming fat drives the anorexia nervosa dieter's actions. Anorexics may claim they want to gain weight, but their behaviour is inconsistent with this claim. If they eat only small amounts of low-calorie foods and exercise a lot, they may lose weight. Some people with anorexia nervosa also binge eat and purge intermittently, either by vomiting or by misusing laxatives
A person suffering from anorexia nervosa has two subtypes:
- People who restrict their diets, fast or exercise excessively lose weight.
- People who binge eat and purge lose weight intermittently.
In extreme cases, this behaviour has caused a great deal of trouble. So many young men and women have died of starvation, for example Low self-esteem and altered self-perception lead people to deny they are underweight.
Other symptoms such as:
- Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become brittle and (Thinning of Bones).
- Mild Anemia.
- Muscle wasting and weakness are common symptoms of ageing.
- Frizzy hair and cracked nails.
- Blood pressure is too low.
- Breathing and pulse rate slow down.
- Body temperature drops, causing a persistent cold sensation.
- The feeling of lethargy or sluggishness.
- Infertility.
Bulimia Nervosa
These people tend to eat excessively. Forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise or a combination of these behaviours follow the binge eating episode. People with bulimia nervosa, on the other hand, tend to maintain a healthy or relatively normal weight.
Other symptoms such as:
- Sore throat and chronic inflammation.
- Worn tooth enamel.
- Due to stomach acid exposure, teeth become more sensitive and decay more quickly
- Trouble with the digestive system, including acid reflux disorder.
- Distress and irritation in the intestines after laxative abuse.
- Sodium, calcium, potassium, and other minerals can be deficient or excessive, resulting in a stroke or heart attack.
- Dehydration caused by the removal of fluids.
Binge Eating Disorder:
Bulimia patients lose control of their eating. Comparatively, binge-eating episodes are not followed by a purge, an excessive amount of exercise or fasting. Binge eaters are often overweight or obese as a result.
Other symptoms may also appear, such as:
- Eating unusually large amounts of food within a specific amount of time.
- The act of eating despite being full or not hungry.
- Consumption of large quantities of food during binge episodes.
Eating Disorder Symptoms
Due to the complexity of these disorders, eating disorders can manifest in a variety of ways. Due to the many manifestations of eating disorders, it is difficult to determine if someone is suffering from one. However, certain symptoms can serve as warning signs.
Emotional & Behavioral ED Symptoms
Our physical bodies, psychological, functioning, cognitive wellness, and choices and behaviors are all deeply intertwined and impactful of one another. Below are a few emotional and behavioral symptoms that may indicate an individual is struggling with eating disorder beliefs or behaviors.
- Beliefs/patterns/choices that indicate a focus on weight loss, dieting, food rules, or eating patterns.
- Extreme mood swings.
- Difficulty.
- Checking in the mirror often.
- Withdrawing from others, decreased socializing, especially when food is involved.
- Presenting as hyper-focused on weight, food, calories, nutritional content of food.
- Skipping meals.
- Intense fear of gaining weight.
- Distorted body image.
- Tangential thought process and difficulty concentrating.
Signs of Eating Disorders on the Physical Level
Both the brain and body cannot function optimally when they are starved. Physical signs of eating disorders include, but are not limited to, those listed below:
- A rapid fluctuation in weight (both up and down).
- Constipation is a serious problem.
- Blood pressure is too low.
- Breathing and pulse rate have slowed down significantly.
- It is common for people to report feeling tired or lethargy.
- Hair and nails that are fragile.
- Skin that is yellow and dry.
- Menstrual cycle interruption (amenorrhea).
- Soft hair growth on the body as a whole (lanugo).
- Problems with the stomach or gastrointestinal system.
- Dizziness/fainting/lightheadedness.
- Muscle weakness is a common problem.
- The immune system is not working properly.
Risk Factors
Eating disorders are associated with a negative body image due to the following factors:
Age: In late childhood and adolescence, this phenomenon is most common. But body dissatisfaction affects people of all ages, especially women, and is as common in middle age as it is in young adulthood.
Gender: Men are also beginning to experience body dissatisfaction, despite the fact that adolescent girls tend to have higher rates of it.
Depression / Low Self- Esteem: The eating habits are directly affected by depression and low self-esteem. One can either completely abstain from eating or eat excessively.
Personality Traits: As a result, eating disorders are more likely to occur in people with perfectionist tendencies or who are high achievers or think in black and white.
Teasing: Fat-teasing increases the risk of developing body dissatisfaction.
Types of Eating Disorder Treatment & Therapy
- Treatment begins with proper nutrition, a reduction in excessive exercise, and a cessation of purging behaviours.
- Positive body image development. How? You can do this by accepting yourself and your body, and valuing and respecting your body. Eating disorders are more resistant to people who have a positive body image.
- CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) is frequently used.
- Food and exercise are part of a balanced lifestyle.
- A child's developing body image and self-esteem can be greatly influenced by parents. Coupled with unconditional love, children can develop a positive body image for the rest of their lives.