Eating Disorder. A Brief Overview

Disclaimer: This blog post is only for informational purposes only. And should not be substituted for therapy or any other mental health treatment

A lot of controversy has surrounded the term eating disorder, following people who suffer from this disease to be labeled as gluttons. Or as people who lack self control. However, this is not true. 

Eating Disorder Definition

Eating disorder is a common disease that involves people eating beyond or above their limits. Wikipedia definition.

Eating Disorder is usually characterized by off eating habits. That later result in several health complications such as anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa (We will take about it in a bit) and many more.

Who Is Vulnerable To Eating Disorder? 

Like any other mental health disorders, eating disorders affects both men and women. But when it comes to ages, according to research most people who suffer from eating disorder are teenagers. From the age of 13 to 18.

This is because hormones, puberty and peer pressure occurs during those ages

However, there are also adults who suffer from eating disorder. The disorder usually develops during the teenage years only to reach its peak at adult hood. I like to call it nurturing your insecurities.

The most common ground of the people who suffer from Eating Disorder is that they have severe distress of the body weight and shape.

What Are The Causes Of Eating Disorder? 

There several theories surrounding Eating Disorder. And because of that there are no specific causes listed by mental health experts. 

I might have did a little research and found 3 main causes of Eating Disorder. Let’s dive into it. Shall we?

Low self esteem

Low self esteem can cause several dissatisfaction over ones look. One some cases low esteem is driven from people who body shame, or label someone because of the way they look. Especially in teens at high schools. Hence it is always important to check on your teen child frequently.

Even in adults, research shows that 4 in 10 adults regardless of gender are stressed over their looks. Long term low self esteem can trigger severe eating disorder. To either gain weight or loose weight. 

Anxiety

This is something I have suffered from for a while. When I get anxious I eat chocolates to distract my thoughts. It can work for a while but it’s never the best solution (don’t try it) 

Anxiety can cause eating disoder. It’s not usually a big deal of eating when you are anxiious but how frequently you eat can cause excessive weight gain.

Or the opposite. Some people don’t eat when they are hungry. They might not feel hungry(due to hormones) however this can damage your health if done frequently.

Sports/ Modeling Requirements

I am sure you have heard the hilarious stories of how models have to restrict to maintain their ‘perfect postures’. Or sometimes it’s also because they need to qualify into a modeling agency. Same applies to atheles. 

See here the story of a model who went on weight lose. 

Click here to know more about the causes of Eating Disorder. 

Cure/ Prevention of Eating Disorder

Its important to seek help if you have eating disorder. However, individuals with eating disorder don’t always realize they have eating disoder untill it’s worse. 

People with eating disoder are prone to suicide, depression and other mental conditions. But it is possible to recover. 

How to recover from Eating Disorder? 

Treatment varies from individual to individual. And the severity of the disoder. Below are some of the treatment methods you should know about.

Therapy

Without exaggerating, therapy is one of the most effective ways of overcoming the disorder. Now am not saying other methods are ineffective. 

Family based therapy work especially for teens. During these session the therapists may discuss ways with you and your child, ways to manage mood swings to reduce binge eating and purging.

Or the therapist can help you as a parent keep track of your child’s eating habits.

Medication.

Please consult your psychologist before taking the medication!

Research shows that antidepressants can help with depression and I

anxiety by stabilizing your mood. 

Click here and visit Mayo Clinic for more. 

Join Support Groups

Individuals with eating disoder are encouraged to join eating disorder support groups. Usually These support groups are managed by a health personnel.  These support groups help individuals discover that they are not the only ones suffering from the disoder. And they will also be equiped to fight stigma, recover and share their inspirational stories.

During studies they can also discuss if their medication is effective. 

Signs or Symptoms of Eating Disoder

Aneroxia Nervosa

This is a condition wereby a person sees themselves as overweight, even when they are under weight. It can get intense to a stage where the person has to weigh themselves regularly, cut the position of food or even starve themselves inorder to prevent weight gain or to promote weight lose.

It is important to note Aneroxia Nervosa is one of the mental health conditions that has high mortality rate, which is caused by starvation or suicide.

Anorexia can be noted by the following

• Restricted eating habits
• Emaciation (being extremely thin) 
• Fear of weight gain
• Yellow skin
• Severe Constipation
• Low blood pressure
• Infertility
• Multi organ failure
• Brain Damage

Bulimia Nervosa

This is a condition were a person eats a huge amount of food, frequently. A person with bulimia often feels lack of control over their eating habits which builds guilty. The guilty is however compensated by forced vomiting, intense exercise, laxatives among others.

Bulimia Nervosa is noted by the following

• Sore throat
• Teeth with worn out enamel
• Severe dehydration 
• Severe gastrointestinal problems

Binge Eating

Like Bulimia Nervosa, a person with Binge loose control over their eating. Howrever, they don’t attempt to remove the food by forced vomiting etc. This leads to excessive weight gain/ obesity. 

A person with Binge eating does the following

• Eat alone to avoid embarrament 
• Eat when not hungry 
• Eat fat
• Eat food until they feel uncomfortably full 
• Feeling guilty about their eating without a possibility of change