Eating Disorders
What are they?
Eating disorders are psychological problems marked by significant and ongoing disturbances in eating patterns and the uncomfortable thoughts and emotions that go along with them.
They can be extremely severe conditions that have an impact on social, psychological, and physical function. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restricted food intake disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorder, pica and rumination disorder are examples of several eating disorders.
When all eating disorders are considered, they can affect up to 5% of people and are most common in adolescence and early adulthood. A few, particularly bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa, are more prevalent in women, but they can all happen to anyone at any age. Preoccupations with food, weight, or shape as well as anxiety related to eating or the results of consuming particular foods are all associated with eating disorders.
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Dietary restrictions or avoiding particular foods, binge eating, purging by vomiting or abusing laxatives, or compulsive exercise are all behaviours linked to eating disorders. These actions may become compelled in ways that resemble addiction.
What are the different types of Eating Disorders?
There are 9 main types of Eating Disorders, which include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Orthorexia, Rumination Disorder, PICA, ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake) Disorder, Night Eating Disorder, SED (Selective Eating Disorder)
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Scroll Down To Learn in Detail !!
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is where an individual indulges in a large and ongoing reduction in food intake that results in an abnormally low body weight, a relentless pursuit of thinness, a distorted perception of one's body and a strong dread of gaining weight, as well as a highly unbalanced eating pattern.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa occurs when someone is repeatedly binging on large amounts of food and then purging it.
Symptoms -
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Binging - Eating large amounts of food in a short space of time with little control
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Purging - Avoiding putting on weight by making yourself vomit, using laxatives or extreme amounts of exercise
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fear of gaining weight
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low self-esteem or negative self-image
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experiencing mood changes such as anxiety or tension
Binge Eating
You’ll eat a lot of food in a short period of time on a regular basis if you have binge eating disorder as with bulimia, you won’t feel in control of your eating, an it’s likely to cause you distress. You may feel disconnected an struggle to remember what you have eaten.
Symptoms -
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Eating very fast while binge eating
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eating until you feel uncomfortably full
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eating despite lack of appetite
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eating secretly
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experiencing depression, guilt, shame or disgust after binge eating.
ARFID
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, more commonly known as ARFID is a condition characterized by the person avoiding certain foods or types of food, having restricted intake in terms of overall amount eating or both.
Symptoms -
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0 Weight loss, persistent fatigue/weakness, slow growth and development, having a fear of many foods or eating in general
Rumination
Rumination disorder is an illness that involves repetitive habitual bringing gup of food that might be partly digested. it often occurs effortlessly and painlessly and is not associated with nausea or disgust. People with rumination disorder will continually regurgitate food before re-swallowing it, chewing it or spitting it out.
Symptoms -
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effortlessly able to regurgitate food, stomach/esophageal issues, constantly feeling full
PICA
An eating disorder that involves eating items that are not typically thought of as food and that do not contain significant nutritional value, such as hair, dirt, and paint chips.
An Eating Disorder whereby people feel compulsions towards eating things not considered as food (chalk or charcoal)
Symptoms -
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Eating non-nutritive substances, poisoning symptoms stomach pain and ulcers, gastrointestinal issues
Orthorexia
Orthorexia refers to an unhealthy obsession with eating “pure” food, food considered “pure” or ‘impure” can vary person to person. This doesn’t mean that anyone who subscribes to a healthy eating plan or diet is suffering from orthorexia.
Symptoms -
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Having a fear of foods labelled as unhealthy, having rigid routines and rules surrounding food, obsessively counting macros and/or checking food labels, avoiding social situations due to a fear of eating unhealthy
Night Eating Disorder
Characterized by excessive food consumption at night, people with night eating disorder will often wake up during the night to eat large amount of food.
Symptoms -
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Eating excessive amounts during the night or after dinner
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Feeling guilt or disgust after eating
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inability to sleep
S.E.D
You will only eat certain foods and may refuse to try other foods if you have SED. This is common in young children, but the problem can continue into adulthood. People struggling with selective eating disorder are extremely picky with their food habits, often only having a few types of meals for as long as they struggle with the disorder.
Symptoms -
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Having only a couple meal options, eating the same thing every day, having a small list of foods they will see as acceptable to eat, constant fear and worry around food.
What Causes An Eating Disorder
Both biology and genetics. Genes in some people may put them at higher risk of having eating problems. Eating disorders may be influenced by biological factors, such as alterations in brain chemistry, mental and emotional well-being.
Psychological and emotional issues may be a factor in eating disorders in those who have them. They might struggle with relationships, perfectionism, impulsivity, and low self-esteem. It is unclear what specifically causes eating problems. The development of an eating problem, however, is thought to be influenced by a number of genetic, physical, social, and psychological variables, according to several medical professionals.
Eating habits may be influenced by a molecule that occurs naturally in the brain called serotonin which controls mood, memory, and sleep patterns among other things. Eating disorders may also be influenced by societal pressure. Particularly in Western culture, physical attractiveness and a trim body are frequently associated with success and self-worth. The behaviours linked to eating disorders may be fueled by the desire to be successful or feel accepted.
Risk Factors
Age -
Though they can happen at any age, eating disorders are most prevalent in adolescence and the first few years of adulthood.
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Family History -
An individual's propensity to develop an eating disorder may be increased by genes. An eating disorder is more likely to occur in those with first-degree relatives who already have one.
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Excessive Dieting -
Positive reinforcement for losing weight is common. You might diet more severely out of the need for approval, which could result in an eating disorder.
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Psychological Health -
An underlying psychological or mental health issue could be a factor in your eating disorder. These issues may consist of:
anxiety and poor self-esteem, depression, an obsessional condition, complexity in relationships, impulsive acts.
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Life Transitions -
You may be more vulnerable to eating disorders if you experience mental anguish and worry as a result of certain life changes and occurrences. This is especially true if you have previously battled an eating disorder. These transitional periods may involve moving, changing employment, ending a relationship, or losing a loved one. A trigger for an eating problem might also be abuse, sexual assault, or incest.
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Extracurricular Activities -
You run a higher danger if you participate in sports teams or creative organisations. The same is true for members of any community, including sports, actors, dancers, models, and television celebrities, where physical attractiveness serves as a marker of social prestige. By promoting weight loss, coaches, parents, and other professionals in these fields may unintentionally encourage eating disorders.
IMPACTS
"My insecurities could eat me alive"
Learn facts how an Eating Disorder can affect you in detail...
Gynecologic Impact
Despite the fact that gynaecologists and obstetricians typically do not concentrate on the diagnosis or treatment of eating disorders, ACOG emphasises the importance of these professionals being capable of identifying warning signs, performing preliminary screenings, and making specialist referrals as needed.Such as, Ovarian stimulation is lacking in anorexia, which results in low levels of estradiol. The metabolism of oestrogen, however, is also changed.
Impact on Nutrition
These actions can have a serious negative effect on your body's capacity to absorb the proper nutrients. Eating disorders can cause various ailments and affect the heart, gastrointestinal tract, bones, teeth, and mouth. Even though they can happen at other times, eating disorders frequently start in the teen and young adult years. AN patients who are extremely undernourished had multiple micronutrient deficiencies, with zinc and vitamin D deficiencies being the most common, followed by copper, selenium, and vitamin B1 deficiencies, according to this large study cohort.
Gastrointestinal Impact
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Eating disorders are highly risky, especially to cardiovascular health and oestrogen levels. It is more prone to females because of societal expectations and ideals.
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ED’s can also lead to abstinence of periods or irregular periods.
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Bulimia can result in deformed teeth due to the acid reflux that presents itself through the amount of purging
Physical Impact
Emotional Impact
These diseases have the potential to take someone's life if left untreated, including their physical and mental health, emotional stability, relationships, profession, and joy.
Understanding the seriousness of these disorders, the necessity for early intervention, efficient treatment, and access to support are all necessary to comprehend the risks that long-term eating disorder behaviours provide.
Cardiovascular & Dietary Impact
Eating Disorder behaviors might include extreme dietary restrictions, such as calorie restriction or omission of vital macronutrients from the diet, Objective binge eating, which entails consuming a disproportionately big quantity of food quickly while feeling out of control, Subjective binge eating occurs when a person experiences loss of control without necessarily consuming a lot of food. other unhealthy weight-control methods, such as withholding insulin that is necessary for survival in an effort to lose weight.
​Untreated Eating Disorders can lead to : - Metabolic imbalances. - Increased risk of athletic injury. - Poor sports performance. - Inability to perform sports requirements resulting in quitting/retirement. - Decreased training response. - Impaired judgment. - Decreased coordination. - Impaired aerobic functioning. - Damage to vital organs. - Loss of menstrual cycle/infertility issues. - Increased risk of heart failure and cardiovascular complications. - Bone and muscle loss. - Ulcers. - Gastrointestinal complications. - Tooth decay/gum disease/tooth loss. - Increased depression/anxiety. - Increased risk of substance abuse. - Increased suicidal thoughts. - Death.
