Eating Disorder Breakdown
In today’s society many people are consumed by fad diets, losing weight, and their physical appearance. An eating disorder is a mental illness where one's thoughts of food, exercise, and their body are severely distrubed. These thoughts also do not tend to come and go. Those who suffer from an eating disorder are constantly consumed by the obsession of calories, the taste of food, food avoidance, etc. Those with eating disorders also tend to place all of their self worth in their physical appearance, causing a need to lose weight and perpetually thinking they are fat, when in reality they are not.
Many people can suffer from disordered eating and not have an eating disorder. The main distinguishing factors between the two is that someone who has an eating disorder will constantly be consumed by the thoughts of food, exercises, and their appearance. These thoughts will also negatively impact their daily functioning. This can include not going out to eat as they are afraid to be judged for what they eat. Or one will miss out on school, work, social events in order to exercise.
Common signs and symptoms of eating disorders/disordered eating:
Primary concerns of weight loss, dieting, and control of food
Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, carbs, fats, and dieting
Refusal to eat certain foods, or entire categories of food (e.g., no carbohydrates, etc.)
Uncomfortable eating around others
Skipping meals or taking small portions of food at regular meals
Any new practices with food or fad diets, including cutting out entire food groups (no sugar, no carbs, no dairy, vegetarianism/veganism)
Withdrawal from usual friends and activities
Frequent dieting
Extreme concern with body size and shape
Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws in appearance
more
Two people who suffer from eating disorders may present very differently. There are 6 types of classified eating disorders
Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa: self starvation and weight loss
Bulimia Nervosa: cycle of binge eating, often followed by purging
Binge eating disorders: recurrent binge eating
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: eating/feeding disturbances resulting in significant weight loss
Other specified feeding or eating disorders: feeding or eating behaviors that cause clinically significant distress and impairment in areas of functioning, but do not meet the full criteria for any of the other feeding and eating disorders
Unspecified feeding or eating disorders: behaviors cause clinically significant distress/impairment of functioning, but do not meet the full criteria of any of the Feeding or Eating Disorder criteria.
Eating disorders can affect any body type, any gender, and any race. Not everyone who suffers from an eating disorder has the stereotypical anorexic body type. It is important to be aware of the signs of eating disorders. If you notice yourself or a loved one developing disordered eating tendencies, it is important to get in front of the problem and stop the behaviour from developing into an eating disorder.
Don't be afraid to get the help you deserve!
If you are struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out for professional help. You are not alone in this battle. And you deserve to live a life free of being consumed by what you eat.
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