A Deep Dive into Eating Disorders
Jul 31, 2024
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that involve abnormal eating habits that negatively impact a person's physical and mental health. The effects are present in affected people's personal, professional, and social lives, often coinciding with other psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. In the United States, ~9% of the population, roughly 28.8 million Americans, will experience eating disorders in their lifetime. By sex, 8.60% of females and 4.07% of males will have a lifetime prevalence of eating disorders, with at least 10,200 deaths per year directly linked to these conditions. Understanding the signs, identifying risk factors, and learning about treatment and prevention can make a significant difference in the fight against eating disorders.
What are the most common eating disorders?
There are three primary types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Let's take a closer look at each of these conditions.
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa involves an intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image, and extreme calorie restriction leading to severe weight loss. Individuals with this condition relentlessly pursue thinness and often engage in excessive exercise or other weight-control behaviors such as skipping meals or taking dietary herbal pills. Some symptoms include:
- Significant weight loss
- Preoccupation with food, dieting, and body image
- Absence of menstruation in females
- Physical signs such as thinning hair, dry skin, and brittle nails
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by purging behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic misuse, fasting, or excessive exercise. It can be harder to detect, as individuals often maintain a relatively normal weight. Symptoms of bulimia include:
- Recurrent episodes of binge eating
- Feeling a lack of control during binge episodes
- Self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas
- Excessive exercise or fasting to compensate for binge eating
- Dental problems, swollen salivary glands, or gastrointestinal issues
Binge-eating disorder
Binge-eating disorder features recurrent episodes of binge eating without compensatory behaviors. Individuals feel a lack of control during episodes and may experience shame or guilt afterwards. Some signs to watch out for include:
- Eating large amounts of food in a short period
- Eating when not physically hungry
- Eating rapidly during binge episodes
- Feeling uncomfortably full after eating
- Eating alone due to embarrassment
Eating disorders typically begin in adolescence but can occur at any age. 22% of children and adolescents worldwide have disordered eating. Factors such as genetics, psychology, and sociocultural influences contribute to their development.
Clinical signs of eating disorders
This is not a comprehensive list, but some behaviors and signs to be on alert for are:
- Excessive preoccupation with body weight, shape, and appearance
- Avoidance of social gatherings involving food
- Withdrawal from usual activities
- Changes in mood, including depression or anxiety
- Physical signs such as weight loss, gastrointestinal issues, or dental problems (from purging behaviors)
Treatment of eating disorders
Eating disorders cannot be eliminated with a magic pill. At the beginning of this article, we defined eating disorders as “complex mental health conditions that include abnormal eating habits that negatively impact a person's physical and mental health.” Treatment of eating disorders involves a multi-disciplinary approach with psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, and medical management. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a common type of talk therapy, is the most effective treatment for bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder, while anorexia nervosa may require specialized treatments such as family-based therapy or inpatient care. Medications, such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs, can manage coexisting psychiatric symptoms.
Prevention of eating disorders
Preventing eating disorders involves promoting positive body image, healthy eating behaviors, and addressing societal pressures related to body image. Education on the dangers of extreme dieting and seeking help early is effective. Family support and early intervention are crucial in preventing these disorders. As a society, collaboration is key to protecting each other from conditions that threaten physical and mental health, potentially saving millions of healthy life years worldwide.
Written by Prathyusha Dasari
Edited by Tiffany vanLieshout
References
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- Eating Disorders - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders
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