What Are Eating Disorders?

In today’s society, eating disorders are no longer hidden. It has become more and more common among teenagers as well as adults. This phenomenon is happening all around the world.

With the changes happening in society, people are turning more vulnerable to the pressures of a developing world. These are not only issues or obsessions about food, weight and body image anymore. They have become more complex now and may continue to encompass other matters. One must remember that this illness, no matter what type, is a serious condition that requires treatment that is long term. Due to the complex issues connected with it, they usually involve psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and drug abuse.

As one goes through life, there are many issues that you will encounter making it important to be healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. Awareness to the different types of disorders and how to prevent and manage them is an important factor that may help you or someone you know who is suffering from this problem.

Types:

1/ Anorexia Nervosa

It is one of the most common types that people tend to suffer. People with this problem has moderate to severe body image issues so they are afraid of putting on extra weight. They drastically cut back on the food they eat making them at risk of becoming emaciated severely.

Like other eating disorders, it affects not only the body of the person but also the mind. This is dangerous because it can start off as something that is as simple as a diet to remove the extra pounds in one’s body but can quickly turn and develop into a pattern that is dangerous, which later on may lead to the person to not eat at all for the reason that losing weight becomes the highest priority. The person suffering from this kind of disorder becomes consumed and preoccupied with thoughts of weight loss, dieting and food.

2/ Bulimia Nervosa

It is another eating disorder that is common to many people who are usually consumed and preoccupied about gaining weight. This is considered as a psychological condition that is often associated with self-esteem issues, anxiety, insecurity, and even depression as opposed to only food. One quality of those who have this issue, more known as bulimics, is their tendency to engage in binge eating and purging which may include actions to make one vomit forcefully, exercise excessively, resort to laxative usage, all for the purpose of maintaining weight.

3/ Binge Eating

This may result from a person’s tendency to use food to numb feelings that are unpleasant or to have pleasant feelings. These feelings may induce the consumption of food. The people who tend to overeat may demonstrate this unlikely behavior uncontrollably by consuming large amounts of food.

The feelings may signify that the person is not necessarily obsessed with controlling their weight or body image. As a matter of fact, many compulsive over eaters is moderately or severely obese.

Men’s Eating disorders

These disorders are not limited to females, they affect men as well. The truth is, approximately 10% of the people who have it are men. It all boils down to the psychological factors that lead people in having eating disorders like anxiety and low self-esteem which can be the same for both women and men.

Addiction to Exercise

It is known that exercise is a good activity for a person’s health. However, as the saying goes, too much of anything is dangerous. Too much exercise may result in the impairment of psychological and physiological qualities. This means that instead of a healthy activity, exercise becomes a negative habit.

When a person has exercise addiction, their obligations and responsibilities may be forgotten and left out. Exercise takes time and other matters such as careers, families, and other social activities become less important. Often since those who have exercise addiction feel guilty when they do not exercise. It consumes their life and their eating habits.

The Treatment

Regardless of which eating problem a person may suffer from, it is important to seek treatment. Since health and nutrition are greatly affected by such disorders, everything may take a turn for the worse and can lead to the person dying. It is therefore very important to get treatment as soon as possible.

Aside from the treatment of the actual problem or addiction that the person has, it is also wise to treat other psychological illnesses such as depression.  Since some of the discussed issues root from such illnesses, according to WebMD, it is wise to get depression treatment as well.

Remember that eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia are emotional disorders aside from being physical disorders; therefore, the treatment should be a combination of one on one, group, holistic and animal therapy. Since the person usually has co-occurring disorder, it would be worth looking for a dual diagnosis treatment center. It is advised to consult with doctors, counselors, nutritionists and other therapists that deal directly with the disorders. Although no specific medication can treat these illnesses, antidepressants are often used to treat anxiety and depression, and may help manage the disorder.

If you or someone you love has an eating disorder call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-515-503.