“Eating disorders are a life-threatening illness that can affect anyone. It doesn’t matter your age, your sex, your ethnicity. Eating disorders don’t discriminate.” — Kesha
What is an eating disorder?
Eating disorders are serious conditions characterized by persistent eating habits that have a negative impact on your health, emotions, and ability to function in important areas of life.
Causes
It is unknown what causes eating disorders. As with other mental illnesses, there could be a variety of causes, including:
Biology and genetics - Certain people may be predisposed to developing eating disorders due to genetic factors. Changes in brain chemicals, for example, may play a role in eating disorders.
Emotional and psychological well-being - Eating disorder sufferers may have psychological and emotional issues that contribute to the disorder. Low self-esteem, perfectionism, impulsive behavior, and troubled relationships are all possibilities.
Symptoms
Common eating disorder signs and symptoms include:
Withdrawal from usual social circles and activities
Obsessive dieting
Extreme preoccupation with body size and shape
Checking in the mirror frequently for perceived flaws in appearance
Extreme mood swings
Dizziness, particularly when standing
Fainting/syncope
Constantly feeling cold
Sleep issues
Cuts and calluses on the tops of the fingers (a result of inducing vomiting)
Enamel erosion, cavities, and tooth sensitivity are all examples of dental issues.
Dry skin, hair, and nails, as well as brittle nails
Swelling in the vicinity of the salivary glands
Body hair is fine (lanugo)
Vomiting causes tooth decay or discoloration.
Muscle deterioration
Prevention Tips
Remove the notion that a specific diet, weight, or body size will automatically lead to happiness and fulfillment. You are more than your physical appearance.
Learn everything you can about eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and others. Genuine awareness will assist you in avoiding judgmental or incorrect attitudes toward food, weight, body shape, and eating disorders. This will also assist you in learning the symptoms of potential eating disorders so that you can identify a problem and seek treatment as soon as possible.
Avoid dividing foods into "good/safe" and "bad/dangerous" categories. Keep in mind that we all need to eat a diverse range of foods. A healthy diet should emphasize whole foods (such as produce, lean meats, low-fat dairy, nuts, and legumes), but it should also allow for the enjoyment of all foods in moderation.
Stop judging yourself and others based on your body weight or shape. Turn off the voices in your head that tell you a person's body weight reflects their character, personality, or value as a person. This is yet another instance where therapy can be beneficial.
Risk factors
Certain factors, such as those listed below, may increase the likelihood of developing an eating disorder:-
Family history - People who have parents or siblings who have had eating disorders are much more likely to develop an eating disorder.
Other mental health disorders - People who have an eating disorder frequently have a history of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Dieting and starvation - Dieting raises the risk of developing an eating disorder. Starvation affects the brain, influencing mood changes, the rigidity of thought, anxiety, and appetite reduction. Many of the symptoms of an eating disorder are symptoms of starvation, according to research. Invulnerable individuals, starvation, and weight loss may alter the way the brain functions, perpetuating restrictive eating behaviors and making it difficult to return to normal eating habits.
Stress - Whether it's starting college, moving, starting a new job, or dealing with a family or relationship issue, change can cause stress, which may increase your risk of developing an eating disorder.
Complications
The more severe or long-lasting the eating disorder, the more likely serious complications will occur, such as:
Serious health issues
Anxiety and depression
Suicidal ideation or behavior
Growth and development issues
Social and interpersonal issues
Substance abuse problems
Concerns about work and school
Types of Eating Disorders
Binge eating disorder (BED) - a severe, life-threatening, and treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food (often quickly and to the point of discomfort); a sense of loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress, or guilt afterward; and not regularly using unhealthy compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counteract the binge eating.
Other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) - In previous editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Another Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) was known as Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). OSFED/EDNOS is a serious, life-threatening, and treatable eating disorder, despite being considered a 'catch-all' classification that was sometimes denied insurance coverage for treatment because it was deemed less serious.
Bulimia (boo-LEE-me-uh) Nervosa - also known as bulimia, is a serious, potentially fatal eating disorder. Bulimics may secretly binge — eat large amounts of food with a loss of control — and then purge, attempting to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way.
Anorexia (an-o-REK-see-uh) Nervosa - is an eating disorder characterized by abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight. People suffering from anorexia place a high value on controlling their weight and shape and will go to great lengths to do so, even if it means interfering with their daily lives.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) - is a new diagnosis in the DSM-5 that was previously known as "Selective Eating Disorder." ARFID is similar to anorexia in that both disorders involve restrictions on the amount and/or type of food consumed; however, unlike anorexia, ARFID does not involve any concern about body shape or size or fears of fatness.
Rumination disorder - is a rare behavioral disorder in which food from the stomach is brought back up. It is either reswallowed, rechewed, or spit out. The food will be described as tasting normal and not acidic or vomit-like. This indicates that it is still undigested. This is a psychological condition.
Therapy/Treatment
You should see seek out:-
A mental health professional - such as a psychologist provides psychological therapy. If you need medication prescription and management, you may see a psychiatrist. Some psychiatrists also provide psychological therapy.
A registered dietitian - to provide education on nutrition and meal planning.
Medical or dental specialists - treat health or dental problems that result from your eating disorder.
Your partner, parents, or other family members - For young people still living at home, parents should be actively involved in treatment and may supervise meals.
When to see a doctor
It can be difficult to manage or overcome an eating disorder on your own. Eating disorders have the potential to completely take over your life. Seek medical attention if you are experiencing any of these issues, or if you believe you may have an eating disorder.
References
コメント