Although most of us love food, many people have a rather complicated relationship with it. The term “eating” is a rather vague and vast term used to describe psychological disorders that involve more than food, going as far as shaping unhealthy obsessions.
Eating disorders start from simple desires such as looking better, losing weight quickly, or having similar body types to those portrayed and idealized in the media. For this purpose, unhealthy habits are introduced. If untreated, harmful habits can lead to unrepairable mental and physical consequences, in some worst-case scenarios.
One study found that most eating disorders are found among teenagers and young women, with 13% of the world's population facing similar problems by the age of 20.
Eating disorders - Cause of development
Among the most common factors that are known to cause the development of an eating disorder, we count a low level of self-esteem (particularly at young and easily impressionable ages, during puberty and adolescence), genetics, social stigma, and sometimes even character traits, such as over the top perfectionism.
There are several types of eating disorders:
NERVOUS ANOREXIA – the most common of all
Studies have shown that women are much more likely to suffer from anorexia than men.
Symptoms:
very restricted eating patterns
constant fear of gaining or losing weight
a heavy influence of body weight or perceived body shape on the individual’s self-esteem
a distorted body figure, rejecting the idea that the individual could be underweight.
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are also often present. For instance, many people with anorexia are often preoccupied with constant thoughts about food, and some may obsessively collect recipes or hoard food.
NERVOUS BULIMIA
People with bulimia frequently eat unusually large amounts of food in a specific period of time. This behavior includes forced vomiting, fasting, and/or excessive exercise.
Symptoms:
eating in uncontrollable quantities
Low self-confidence about the individual’s appearance
Fear of being overweight, regardless of the individual’s actual weight.
In severe cases, bulimia can also create an imbalance in electrolyte levels, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium.
BINGE EATING DISORDER
Individuals experiencing this disorder have symptoms similar to those of anorexia and bulimia.
Symptoms:
Eating large quantities of food in short periods of time
Lack of control when it comes to eating, followed by a general sense of negative emotions, predominantly guilt.
PICA
This syndrome involves ingesting objects that are not considered edible, such as dirt, soil, chalk, soap, paper, metal, etc.
People with Pica can suffer from various infections, nutritional deficiencies, and poisoning.
OTHER EATING DISORDERS
Purging disorder – involves unhealthy methods of controlling body image
Night eating syndrome.
While being treatable with both physical and psychological intensive care and assistance, eating disorders are often underestimated or overlooked. It is absolutely essential to admit disorders as such exist and affect many people of all ages, genders, and races, in order to be able to both treat and prevent them in the future.
Finally, if you know someone who may be experiencing such issues, offer them emotional support and guide them towards getting professional help. At the end of the day, everyone needs a hand to hold. Let yours be a healing one!
Editor
Alexia Vasile
ความคิดเห็น