“To lose confidence in one’s body is to lose confidence in oneself.”
Food is essential for survival. However, if not taken in the right way, it can plague your body and social functioning in an unpleasant manner. According to the DSM-5 (APA,2013), eating disorders are characterized by a persistent disturbance in eating behaviour. American psychological association estimates that over 20 million women and around 10 million men will suffer from an eating disorder at some point of their lives. A common misconception that arises with eating disorders is that it is a lifestyle choice. When in fact it is a serious mental disorder that can trigger a person to take drastic measures that can have a severe effect on the mind and may also lead to death.
Major eating disorders
Having an unhealthy relationship with food and your body can lead you to develop major eating disorders. The 3 main eating disorders recognized by DSM-5 include the following.
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ANOREXIA NERVOSA
In its literal sense, anorexia nervosa means “lack of appetite induced by nervousness”. People suffering from this disorder, often perceive themselves to be fat or ‘not thin enough’ even though they might be having a low body weight. Characterized by a distorted body image, individuals exercise in an excessive amount and eat abnormally less to the point that they may starve themselves to death. The caloric intake is extremely low and patients often take laxatives to lose weight. Anorexia nervosa is considered to have the highest mortality rate amongst eating disorders.
SYMPTOMS
- Having a distorted body image
- Extremely underweight body
- Obsession to lose weight
- Restricted eating/Starving
- Brittle nails
- Pale, dry skin
- Low blood pressure
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BULIMIA NERVOSA
A bulimic person suffers from an uncontrollable episode of binge eating which ends with purging out the food in an effort to not gain weight. The guilt of excessive overeating gets balanced out with the use of laxatives and vomiting which makes the stomach empty again. However, unlike extreme thinness in anorexia nervosa, patients of this disorder tend to maintain a minimally normal body weight.
SYMPTOMS
- Negative body image
- Binge eating/ Overeating
- Purging
- Sore and swollen throat/ salivary glands
- Acid reflux
- Having a discrete-time to eat
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Binge-Eating Disorder
A new addition to the DSM-5, This eating disorder is very common in people and is characterised by an uncontrollable binge which unlike bulimia nervosa, isn’t purged out. The individual loses his/her control over eating and is associated to being obese or overweight. The guilt of eating makes the person distressed which in turn leads them to binge even more, making it a vicious cycle.
SYMPTOMS
- Binge eating
- Uncontrollable need to eat; even after being full
- Overweight/obese
- Feeling guilty due to eating
Although eating disorder affects people from all sex and age groups, it usually initiates at the teenage level and is found to be more common in females as compared to men. People suffering from these are more at the risk of developing further major mental issues such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse. To avoid such conditions, it is necessary to seek treatment for the eating disorders.
TREATMENT
An early intervention to treat the disorder can help avert future crisis. Treatments like therapies are highly beneficial. Some of which are as follows.
- COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT)
One of the most common therapies of psychology yet one of the most effective ones, CBT is considered to be the best treatments for eating disorders. It helps a person realize his/her distorted body image and thinking patterns and leads to making change in them. It helps in reducing the severity of symptoms and guides the patient in making healthy choices when it comes to food. the individuals are exposed to food that they fear and appropriate meal plans are made as well. CBT is an effective way to cope with eating disorders.
- FAMILY BASED THERAPY (FBT)
Another treatment that is considered to be the best for adolescents suffering from eating disorders can be family based therapy. The family is included in the patients healing and the therapy works in a 3 phased manner. In the first phase, the family is given the full control of the patients diet and health. Purging, exercising and binging are monitored to make sure the patient doesn’t take drastic steps. Then the patient is given a partial control of what he/she eats and how much is being eaten. In the last phase, the patient is given full independence to plan meals.
The treatment helps in reorganizing the person’s life under the guidance of family which thus establishes a healthy relationship with one’s body and food.
The journey to heal from an eating disorder may seem like a slow, uphill battle. But every short milestone of struggle will lead up to full recovery.
-By Khushee
