Eating disorders (ED) are defined as mental conditions that
cause you to have an unhealthy relationship with food and your body image. A
common misconception about eating disorders is that it’s simply someone who
feels they are overweight and stops eating to lose weight. It is much more
complex than that. It can range from someone restricting their diet or only
eating a specific food, throwing up their food (called purging) or excessively
exercising to get rid of calories, or eating excessively. The psychological
reasons people develop eating disorders is also complex. Reasons can include
feeling like one has a sense of control over their lives, or using food as an
unhealthy coping method.
Types of ED
The three most known types of eating disorders are:
- Anorexia Nervosa:
This eating disorder is characterized “an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight
and a distorted perception of body weight.” Those with anorexia control
their caloric intake in a variety of ways, including restricting the amount of
food they eat, vomiting after they eat, misusing laxatives, or excessively
exercising. This control is equated with self-control, which is then equated
with self-worth.
- Bulimia Nervosa:
This eating disorder describes people who typically eat excessively large
amounts of food (binging), and then attempt to get rid of the extra calories by
either vomiting and laxatives (purging bulimia) or fasting and excessive
exercise (nonpurging bulimia). Although there are many similarities in
definition between anorexia and bulimia, people with anorexia most times are
severely underweight, while those with bulimia can appear average weight or
overweight.
- Binge-Eating Disorder:
This is when people eat excessively large amounts of food over a period of
time, without the attempt to get with of the extra calories through purging. These
binges can be accompanied with feelings of disgust, shame, guilt, or
depression. Although many people with binge-eating disorder may be
overweight/obese, some may be average weight.
Causes
On the surface, eating disorders may seem only about food
and weight, but it goes deeper than that. Eating disorders often stem from
using food to cope with feelings that a person may feel they cannot handle.
This can include low self-esteem, anger, loneliness, an underlying mental
health disorders, a history of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional), troubled
personal relationships, stress, etc.
Many people also point to the media showing White/Western
ideas of beauty as the ideal beauty standard as a root for eating disorders. These
ideals include over-valuing thinness for women, muscularity for men, and the
idea that we must always work on
achieving the “perfect” body. These body values may differ based on race/ethnicity and sexual orientation as well. Our obsessions with dieting in the United States
and similar countries leads to a culture that values physical appearance above
any other quality. The emotions that come with not feeling good enough or being
ridiculed for not having a certain body type can lead to eating disorders as
well.
Risks
Typically, we associate eating disorders with women in their
teens or early 20’s. Although young women are more likely to be diagnosed with
eating disorders, men are also affected and can have eating disorders, too.
Beauty standards tell women to be thin, while they often tell men to be muscular.
This means that eating disorders can look very different between men and women;
and because we are more aware of the warning signs for women, men are less
likely to be diagnosed.
People who are in occupations or hobbies that maintain a
high level of expectation to be a certain way, such as athletes, dancers,
models, etc. are also at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. These activities often stress dieting and
exercise to maintain a certain physique, and this type of pressure could be overwhelming
for some.
In the US, 50% of Americans know at least one person who as an eating disorder. If you think that a friend is experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder, there are ways to help. Provide encouragement and support. Offer to help your loved one find a qualified doctor or mental health provider and make an appointment. You might even offer to go along. There are also resources available if you think you may have an eating disorder.
Resources
