What are Eating Disorders?
The American Psychiatric Association describes eating disorders as “… behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions.” They could be very serious disorders that impact physical and mental functions as well as social interactions. When looking at eating disorders as a whole, they affect 5% of the population, and they progress early on in adolescence and adulthood. They can occur in conjunction with mood and anxiety disorders as well as substance abuse.
There is also some evidence and research that shows genetic correlations. People who have a family history of eating disorders are at a bigger risk of having this disorder than those who don’t. When treating eating disorders, people should focus on the psychological, nutritional, and other medical issues that the patient might have. However, with appropriate management of medical care, individuals with eating disorders will be well on their way towards a healthier mental and physical lifestyle, enabling them to recover from the damaging effects that they have experienced because of these disorders.
Types of Eating Disorders
It’s important to recognize the many types of eating disorders that a person could potentially have. One of the most recognized is Anorexia, or Anorexia Nervosa, where an individual is extremely underweight. While generally understood as simply starving oneself, there are two subtypes of Anorexia: the restricting type and the binging type. People with the restricting type excessively lose weight by extreme dieting, fasting, and excessive exercise, while those who binge or over-eat use purging methods such as vomiting or misusing laxatives.
Another eating disorder that is commonly known is Bulimia, or Bulimia Nervosa, in which a person alternates between dieting and binging. Bulimics will also use purging methods such as vomiting or misusing laxatives. While Bulimia may seem similar to Anorexia, a Bulimic person is not specifically underweight as an Anorexic person would be and can be a healthy weight or overweight.
Other eating disorders include binge-eating disorders, which are characterized by frequent binging. For instance, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), in which a person fails to meet nutritional needs as a result of being a picky eater. However, people with ARFID don’t necessarily have concerns about their body image as people with Anorexia or Bulimia would.
Raising Awareness
When individuals have a complicated bond with food, exercise, and appearance, their poor self-esteem could potentially prevent them from receiving help, and this is why it’s so important to raise awareness. Raising awareness could increase empathy for people who are struggling with these disorders, while simultaneously lowering the stigma surrounding those who do all they can to combat their mental illness. So, that being said, how can you help? You can educate yourself about eating disorders, including the causes and correlated behaviors, treatment plans, and the effects on physical and mental health. There are also different advocacy groups that not only promote eating disorder awareness but also work toward efficacious change. These groups include Project Heal, F.E.A.S.T, Eating Disorders Coalition, and others. Raising awareness and using these resources could help those who are struggling to recognize that they are not alone and that there is hope for a brighter and healthier future.
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