Eating Disorders
- Bryce Q
- Dec 28, 2022
- 2 min read
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are medical conditions where a person develops unhealthy eating habits, which can be caused by genetics, brain biology, personality traits, and cultural ideals. However, in popular culture, eating disorders are often shown to be caused by peer pressure and social anxiety. Eating disorders can become serious when it causes health problems or emotional distress on a person.
Who develops eating disorders most often?
Eating disorders are more prevalent in women, especially teens and young adults. However, they can affect almost anyone.
There are 6 distinct types of eating disorders:
Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Binge eating disorder
Pica
Rumination disorder
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
All of these somewhat are somewhat different in their causes and symptoms. We’ll now be going more in-depth into these six different eating disorders.
Anorexia nervosa:
Anorexia is probably the most well-known disorder, especially in popular culture and the media. People with anorexia nervosa think of themselves as overweight, though they may be the opposite. Symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:
Being very underweight
Obsessing over food intake and dietary patterns
Body image problems
Limiting food intake or purging food through vomiting, taking laxatives, or extreme diets
Bulimia nervosa:
Bulimia nervosa is similar to anorexia nervosa except people with bulimia have a normal weight, but people with anorexia are dangerously underweight. However, the symptoms of both are the same.
Binge eating disorder:
In binge-eating disorder, people uncontrollably and regularly consume high amounts of calories in short periods. Its difference with other eating disorders is that it is not characterized by any purging. Symptoms include:
Eating large amounts of food, despite not being hungry
Lack of control when eating
Not purging food
Pica:
People with pica have uncontrollable cravings, like with binge eating disorders, but they crave socially unacceptable and non-food substances. Some examples include hair, laundry detergent, dirt, and chalk. This disorder most often occurs in young children, pregnant women, and people with mental disabilities.
Rumination Disorder:
People with rumination disorder regurgitate their food that has been swallowed, then re-swallow it or spit it out. This disorder can affect all ages.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder:
People with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder have a distaste for certain smells, tastes, textures, etc, or a lack of interest in the food. This disorder most commonly develops in children under seven, but it can continue to adulthood.
Treatment for Eating Disorders:
If a person is diagnosed with an eating disorder, they’ll most likely get treatment from a large group of medical professionals, collectively working together to cure it. Some medical professionals include psychologists to help with mental health, dieticians to help with diets and nutrition, and doctors/nurses, who help treat any medical problems and prescribe medications.
What to do if you think you have an eating disorder:
You should see a doctor or nutrition specialist as soon as possible so they can evaluate you.
If you are diagnosed with an eating disorder, remember that you are not alone! 9% of the United States population, or about 28.8 million Americans, will develop an eating disorder in their lifetime.
Also, some prominent celebrities have or had an eating disorder: Demi Lovato, Paula Abdul, Russell Brand, Lady Gaga, Alanis Morisette, Princess Diana, Elton John, and more.
If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, there’s an official organization called National Eating Disorders Association with resources and a hotline where Helpline volunteers offer resources and treatment options.
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