Recognizing Eating disorders

 To understand eating disorders we must understand the meaning of the word. This disorder does not simply relate to eating but rather relates to complex mental health conditions. These eating disorders are a type of psychological condition that develops unhealthy eating habits. These habits can get severe and cause serious health concerns and may even result in death. According to research eating disorders can affect people of any gender and any age, but are most often found in young women. Eating disorders may form in the shape of obsession with food of maintaining a body shape.

The types of disorders

Anorexia nervosa

This is the most common type of eating disorder. People affected by anorexia commonly overlook their weight and avoid eating certain foods because they either feel fulfilled or because they think that maintaining their slimmer selves is a better option than trying to eat something. People with anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight, even when extremely underweight. This perception leads them to restricting their calories and becoming dangerously underweight. Anorexia is very harmful to the body. People with the disorder over time may experience their bones thinning and nails becoming brittle.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a well-known eating disorder. Similar to anorexia, bulimia seems to develop in adolescence and early adulthood. People with this disorder usually eat unusually large amounts of food in a short time period. This ‘binge eating’ normally continues until the person becomes uncomfortably full. When going through that time period a person cannot stop themselves from eating too much. This can happen with any type of food but mostly with foods a person would normally avoid. Common symptoms include forced vomiting, fasting, laxatives and excessive exercise.

Binge eating disorder 

Binge eating disorder is believed to be the most common eating disorders found in almost 2 in every 5 households. This disorder can develop as early as young adulthood and grow further.

The symptoms are similar to those of bulimia or anorexia. For example, people with binge eating disorder are usually who typically eat large amounts of food in short periods of time also feeling lack of control over their actions. Sometimes individuals may subconsciously start eating without being in control only because they ‘feel’ like doing it. In recent times due to the covid situation the rising numbers of people who are limited to a few activities usually undergo binge eating along with watching their favorite shows not knowing they are eating large amounts of food. The difference between this disorder and the others is that the affected individual does not purge into their food but rather just involuntarily starts eating.

Pica

Pica is an eating disorder that involves eating things that are not considered food.

People with pica crave inedible substances, such as ice, dirt, paper, hair, cloth, wool, pebbles.

Pica can occur in people of any age. Adults or children are both most likely to develop this disorder at any point of their lives. This results in the affects individual prone to diseases and infections of all sorts. Individuals with this disorder can also further develop other health related complexities. In order to be diagnosed with this disorder a person must have a normal everyday habit of eating inedible items. This can be influence of their future religion or just personal beliefs.

Rumination disorder

Rumination disorder is a new type of disorder.

It is a condition where a person throws up food they have previously chewed or swallowed, and then re-swallows it or spits it out. This disorder can develop during infancy, childhood, or adulthood. In infants however these symptoms may go away in a couple of weeks. However, adults and children with the condition may require therapy to cure it. If not resolved the disorder can further develop and turn into a habit that may be very difficult to tackle and may result in the individual becoming deprived of essential calories and becoming weak.

What are the causes?

Scientific experts say that eating disorders may be caused by different factors. Once of these factors being genetics. Children that are born to different families with a history of eating disorders are more likely to develop the problem themselves. Another factor can be linked to personality. The need to achieve perfect physical state or to be desired by someone drives a person towards the need to eat more or eat less to achieve this goal. 

Some other Factors include pressure from society and the perception of a ‘beautiful’ body may cause a person to disrupt their eating habits. Cultural influence can also be a reason, such as media promoting thinner and slimmer looking bodies.

What to take from this?

A recent photo shoot displaying body positivity by British Vogue

The bottom line is that these categories above help provide us a better outlook of common eating disorders and understand them. Eating disorders are mental health conditions that usually require treatment, if left untreated or ignored these disorders can ruin your entire life and lives of those around you. 

We must truly understand that our bodies however they might be are beautiful regardless of the standards of society. When we first begin to accept ourselves as we are, then can we only start to expect others to accept us too.

Normally people tend to ignore these disorders and believe that eventually over time they might cure themselves, however that is not the case. At any point of life if you may encounter someone with similar symptoms do consult a specialist before it’s too late. We have to take these issues seriously before these issues become a staple of our lives.