Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious mental health illnesses that impact an individual’s physical and emotional well-being. These disorders include issues with your eating habits and relationship with food, weight and eating patterns. Your capacity to operate in key areas of your life, as well as your health and emotions, may be impacted by these symptoms. People who suffer from eating disorders are concerned about their body image, weight and their relationship with food. This can impact the body’s capacity to obtain the nourishment it requires adversely. The mouth, teeth, bones, digestive system, and heart can all be harmed by eating disorders. They may cause other illnesses. Suicidal thoughts and actions, self-harm, anxiety, and depression are also associated with them.

Who is at risk?
An eating disorder affects up to 5% of the total population, developing mostly during adolescence or adulthood. It can affect both males and females, and the prevalence of eating disorders is higher in women as compared to men. The age of onset of this disorder for women is between the ages of 12 and 35.

Signs to look for:

  • Making up reasons to avoid eating, or skipping meals or snacks.
  • Following an extremely restricted diet without a prescription from a qualified medical practitioner.
  • An excessive emphasis on food or eating healthily.
  • Preparing their food instead of eating what the family has.
  • Avoid routine social interactions.
  • Persistent concerns or grievances about being overweight or unwell, coupled with discussions about weight loss.
  • Often finding flaws or imperfections in their body.
  • Binge eating habits.
  • Using herbal medications, laxatives, or nutritional supplements in an attempt to lose weight.
  • Exercising a lot more than required.
  • Issues with enamel loss in the teeth, which might indicate frequent vomiting.
  • Leaving to use the restroom during or immediately after a meal.
  • Eating secretly.

Types:

Anorexia nervosa: Individuals who suffer from this disorder severely restrict their intake of food and calories, often to the point of starving. Anorexia may affect people of any size. It is typified by a constant need to reduce weight and an unwillingness to consume portions of food that are appropriate for your body type and level of exercise.

Bulimia Nervosa: Individuals diagnosed with bulimia nervosa binge or think they ate a lot of food in a short period. Then, in an attempt to get rid of the food and calories, they can push themselves to vomit, use laxatives, or engage in extreme exercise.

Binge eating disorder (BED): Compulsive eating habits are shown by individuals with BED. They consume large amounts of food in a short length of time or believe they have consumed large amounts of food. But following a binge, they don’t fast or burn off their calories. Rather, they have an uncomfortable feeling of being full and could experience sadness, regret, guilt, or humiliation.

Avoidant/restrictive: Extremely restricted eating or abstaining from particular foods are examples of avoidant/restrictive eating disorders. The dietary habit frequently falls short of the recommended daily intake of nutrients. Problems with growth, development, and day-to-day functioning might result from this. However, those who suffer from this illness don’t worry about getting bigger or gaining weight.

Treatment

With the right care, you may regain old eating patterns and develop new, healthier perspectives on food and your body. Reversing or lessening severe issues brought on by the eating disorder could also be possible. Psychotherapy, medications and nutrition counselling are some therapies used to treat eating disorders.

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