In most cultures, eating is a part of togetherness and celebration, just as much as it’s a necessity for life and healthy nourishment. For nearly 30 million Americans, eating is linked to poor self-esteem and poor body image, as well as social, physical, and emotional turmoil. An eating disorder is defined by an unhealthy relationship with food that leads to an obsession with food and body image, ultimately having a negative effect on health.
Left untreated, eating disorders can quickly cause serious health problems. This year, National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 21-27, so we believe it is a great time to bring awareness to these conditions and offer insights on how to find help or help someone you know who may be struggling with an eating disorder.
Causes of eating disorders
Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental health conditions—responsible for over 10,000 deaths each year. They are often coupled with other mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, substance abuse, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Eating disorders can be caused by forming poor eating habits, struggling to cope with past traumas, feeling inadequate, or struggling with depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. Societal pressure also contributes to eating disorders by glamorizing certain body types and encouraging disordered easing to lose weight.
While it is best to seek a professional diagnosis, there are some online questionnaires that can be helpful for determining if you may be suffering from an eating disorder.
Common types of eating disorders
- Anorexia - Anorexia is the most common eating disorder and is most prevalent among adolescents. Those struggling with anorexia usually follow very restrictive eating patterns and are markedly underweight compared to peers. They are fixated on being thin and will have a body dysmorphia that makes them believe they are overweight, even when they aren’t. They use restrictive dieting, fasting, and in some cases, excessive exercise in pursuit of losing weight or remaining severely underweight. Those suffering from anorexia are at a high risk for malnutrition.
- Bulimia - Bulimia is characterized by recurrent binge-and-purge cycles and commonly develops in adolescence. Those with bulimia have an intense fear of gaining weight and will induce purging (vomiting) after an episode of overeating as a means of preventing weight gain. Adolescent teens are at risk for developing bulimia because of the influence of unrealistic body standards in pop culture and pressure from their peers. Bulimia can cause physical damage to the esophagus and teeth from frequent vomiting.
- Binge eating - People who suffer from binge eating disorder or BED are at high risk for obesity and obesity-related medical conditions such as high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and heart disease. BED is marked by an uncontrollable urge to consume large quantities of food. Unlike bulimia, someone suffering from BED will not purge after a binge episode, causing these cycles of overeating to lead to weight gain.
- Rumination disorder - Rumination disorder is a newly recognized condition that involves an involuntary regurgitation of food that is then re-chewed and swallowed. Infants have a short experience with rumination as part of their normal development. Children and adults experiencing this disorder will need medical intervention and therapy to help resolve it. Rumination disorder makes eating around others an embarrassing experience, so people with this disorder often seek social seclusion.
- Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) - ARFID may appear similar to anorexia at first glance. However, sufferers of ARFID do not avoid or restrict foods out of fear of gaining weight or for body-image purposes. They are either completely uninterested in eating or have a severe aversion to the taste or texture of food. Lack of interest in eating and having a dislike for certain foods is common in childhood; however, ARFID is an aversion to foods that causes malnutrition.
Starting the conversation
Eating disorders are complex illnesses that can cause severe mental and physical harm and even result in death if left untreated. If you suspect a loved one is suffering from an eating disorder, here are some tips for starting a conversation with them:
- Keep your loved one feeling as comfortable as possible by prioritizing privacy during your conversation and afterward.
- Refrain from using statements that place blame. Instead, use I-statements that describe your observations, such as “I have noticed you don’t eat dinner with us anymore."
- Avoid simplistic solutions like “just stop” or “all you have to do is eat"; statements like these downplay the severity of eating disorders and are incredibly unhelpful. Statements like these can also trigger someone to experience more severe symptoms or decide not to seek help/treatment.
- Remove the stigma by reassuring your loved ones that they are not alone and that recovery from eating disorders is possible with the proper support and treatment combination.
- Speak about the positive impacts that professional help will have. Offer to attend a support group with them or help them find a mental health provider.
Getting help for eating disorders
Eating disorders can quickly become life altering and even life threatening. Like all mental health conditions, eating disorders need to be taken seriously. Seeking the help of professional medical and mental health providers will increase the chances of success when working to overcome the challenges associated with eating disorders.
Therapy and mental health support will help get to the root cause of disordered eating and facilitate mental healing and behavior management. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, Medens Health is here to help. If you need help with an eating disorder in California or Nevada, reach out to us via our online portal or by calling/texting (833) 624-5400.
If you or a loved one is experiencing an eating disorder crisis, you can also reach out to the Eating Disorders Helpline.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reliance on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical or mental health. If you don’t currently have a therapist, we can connect you with one who is qualified to give you safe, professional, and ethical advice regarding your mental health.
If you or someone you are responsible for is experiencing a medical emergency, is considering harming themselves or others, or is otherwise in imminent danger, you should call 9-1-1 and/or take them to the nearest emergency room.
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