Eating Disorder
What Is Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviours and associated distressing thoughts and emotions.
What Are the Symptoms of Eating Disorder?
- Skipping meals or making excuses for not eating
- Adopting an overly restrictive vegetarian diet
- Excessive focus on healthy eating
- Making own meals rather than eating what the family eats
- Withdrawing from normal social activities
- Persistent worry or complaining about being fat and talk of losing weight
- Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws
- Repeatedly eating large amounts of sweets or high-fat foods
- Use of dietary supplements, laxatives or herbal products for weight loss
- Excessive exercise
- Calluses on the knuckles from inducing vomiting
- Problems with loss of tooth enamel that may be a sign of repeated vomiting
- Leaving during meals to use the toilet
- Eating much more food in a meal or snack than is considered normal
- Expressing depression, disgust, shame or guilt about eating habits
- Eating in secret
Causes of eating disorder
The exact cause of eating disorders is unknown. As with other mental illnesses, there may be many causes,
such as:
Genetics and Biology
Certain people may have genes that increase their risk of developing eating disorders. Biological factors, such as changes in brain chemicals, may play a role in eating disorders.
Psychological and Emotional Health
People with eating disorders may have psychological and emotional problems that contribute to the disorder. They may have low self-esteem, perfectionism, impulsive behaviour and troubled relationships.
What Are the Factors That Lead to the Risks and Complications of Eating Disorders?
Risks
FAMILY HISTORY
Eating disorders are significantly more likely to occur in people who have parents or siblings who've had an eating disorder.
Other mental health disorders
People with an eating disorder often have a history of anxiety disorder, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Dieting and starvation
Dieting is a risk factor for developing an eating disorder. Starvation affects the brain and influences mood changes, rigidity in thinking, anxiety and reduction in appetite.
Stress
Whether it's heading off to college, moving, landing a new job, or a family or relationship issue, change can bring stress, which may increase your risk of an eating disorder.
Complications
- Serious health problems
- Depression and anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- Problems with growth and development
- Social and relationship problems
- Substance use disorders
- Work and school issues
- Death
Preventive Measures For Eating Disorders
Avoid dieting around your child
Family dining habits may influence the relationships children to develop with food. Eating meals together gives you an opportunity to teach your child about the pitfalls of dieting and encourages eating a balanced diet in reasonable portions.
Enlist the help of your child's doctor
Doctors may be able to identify early indicators of an eating disorder. The doctor visits should include checks of height and weight percentiles and body mass index, which can alert you and your child's doctor to any significant changes.
Cultivate and reinforce a healthy body image
Talk to your child about self-image and offer reassurance that body shapes can vary. Avoid criticizing your own body in front of your child.
Talk to your child
It's crucial to correct any misperceptions and talk to your child about the risks of unhealthy eating choices.
Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge-eating Disorder
Rumination Disorder
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Diagnosis of Eating Disorders
Healthcare providers and mental health professionals diagnose eating disorders based on:
History, symptoms, thought patterns, eating behaviours
Weight and height and comparison to previous records
Physical tests
Treatments For Eating Disorders
Psychotherapy
A mental health professional can determine the best psychotherapy for your situation. Many people with eating disorders improve with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Maudsley approach
This form of family therapy helps parents of teenagers with anorexia. Parents actively guide a child’s eating while they learn healthier habits.
Medications
Taking antidepressants or other medications can improve these conditions. As a result, your thoughts about yourself and food improve.
Nutrition counselling
A registered dietitian with training in eating disorders can help improve eating habits and develop nutritious meal plans.
FAQs
1
What is it called when you don't like eating?
Anorexia is a general loss of appetite or a loss of interest in food. When some people hear the word “anorexia,” they think of the eating disorder anorexia nervosa.
2
How do you know when you have an Eating Disorder?
Frequently consuming excessive amounts of food, followed by behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxatives, stimulants, excessive exercise or restricting food intake. Obsession and preoccupation with weight and weight loss. Frequently consuming very large amounts of food without connection to physical hunger.
3
What goes on inside the body to cause eating disorders?
For eating disorders, there are two primary neurotransmitters you need to know about: serotonin and dopamine. Each of these neurotransmitters has an influence in how we think and behave, our personalities, and even perhaps our risk for developing an eating disorder.
4
What is it called when you starve yourself?
Anorexia. If you get an anorexia diagnosis (known as anorexia nervosa), you’re not eating enough food. This means you’re not getting the energy you need to stay healthy.
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