Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious, biologically influenced medical illnesses marked by severe disturbances to one’s eating behaviors. Although many people may be concerned about their health, weight, or appearance from time to time, some people become fixated or obsessed with weight loss, body weight or shape, and controlling their food intake. The fixation or obsession interferes with daily activities. These may be signs of an eating disorder.
What causes Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders likely emerge from a complex relationship between genetics, personality traits, and environmental influences such as childhood experiences, social comparison, stressful or traumatic events, and cultural beauty standards. Eating disorders are connected to perfectionism, obsessive compulsive tendencies, and sensitivity to negative emotions. Low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction are risk factors, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. One of the strongest predictors of eating disorders among girls, research suggests, is the value peers place on weight and eating. People who have a family member with an eating disorder face a much greater risk of developing one themselves. For example, studies show that people are 7 to 12 times more likely to develop anorexia or bulimia if they have a relative with an eating disorder. Although the roots of disordered eating will likely remain a mystery for some time, treatment can help those suffering embark on a successful recovery.
Who is at risk for Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, racial/ethnic backgrounds, body weights, and genders. Although eating disorders often appear during the teen years or young adulthood, they may also develop during childhood or later in life (40 years and older).
What are the symptoms of Eating Disorders?
People with eating disorders may appear healthy, yet they may be extremely ill. Common symptoms of eating disorders include:
- Severe restriction of food
- Food binges
- Purging behaviors like vomiting or overexercising
- Extreme weight loss or gain relative to your personal history
- Fear of gaining weight
- Preoccupation with food, body weight and body shape
- Skipping meals or refusing to eat
- Adopting rigid eating rituals or rules
- Exercising excessively
- Heart, kidney or digestive issues
What are the treatment options for Eating Disorders?
Eating Disorders can affect a person’s physical and mental health. In some cases, they can be life-threatening. With treatment, however, people can recover completely from eating disorders. Treatment goals usually include reducing excessive exercise, restrictive eating behaviors, binging, and purging. Treatment plans may include psychotherapy, medical care and monitoring, nutritional counseling, medications, or a combination of these approaches.
What are the common types of eating disorders?
Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. Each of these disorders is associated with different but sometimes overlapping symptoms. People exhibiting any combination of these symptoms may have an eating disorder and should be evaluated by a health care provider.