Eating Disorders

 

Eating disorders are characterized by unusual and bad habits related to eating. During an eating disorder, people usually become obsessed with body weight , diet or body shape which can cause serious illness that may even cause death.

 

At least 13% of young people by the  age of 20 suffer from some type of eating disorder. However with proper treatment, people can recover.

Types of Eating Disorders :-

•          BULIMIA NERVOSA
•          BINGE-EATING DISORDER
•          ANOREXIA NERVOSA

 

Bulimia Nervosa:-  This disorder causes a fear of obesity. In this case, people most commonly worry about  their body weight and body shape. People see the flaws in their body and keep evaluating themselves. Due to this harsh judgement of the body, people try to reduce their weight by excessive exercise.

Binge-Eating Disorder:- In this disorder, people eat too much and in an uncontrollable manner. People feel like ‘binge-eating’ as if it will provide them comfort. Generally, after getting over of the hunger, patients keep on eating until they feel restless.

Anorexia Nervosa:-  In the case of Anorexia Nervosa, people worry about weight gaining or weight loss and create the impression of being unusual in body weight and size. In this case people try hard to control their weight and shape, which badly affects their health and life activities.

Symptoms of Eating Disorders:-

• Preoccupation with feeling fat
• Excessive exercise
• Abnormal electrolyte levels
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Unusually large intake of food
• Anxiety around or avoidance of eating

  Symptoms of Bulmia Nervosa:-

Ø  Low self-esteem

Ø  Fear of gaining weight

Ø  Self-Induced Vomiting

Ø  Depression

Ø  Complaining about body shape

Ø  Feeling shame when eating

Symptoms of Binge-Eating Disorder:-

Ø  Eating –large amount of food frequently

Ø  Eating in Secret

Ø  Bing-eating despite not feeling hungry

Ø  Unable to control eating

Ø  Feeling of stress, shame, disgust, or guilt due to the binging.

Ø  Becoming overweight

Symptoms of Anorerxia Nervosa

Ø  Believing they are overweight instead of being normal and comparing with others of the same age and height.

Ø  Obsession with counting every calorie

Ø  Restricting of intaking of food

Ø  Fear of gaining weight

Ø  Excessive Exercise

Ø  Fast and crash dieting

 Causes of Eating Disorders

Ø  Genetics

Ø  Age (teens and early twenties)

Ø  Excessive Dieting

Ø  Psychological health

Ø  Anxiety

Ø  Depression

Ø  Impulsive behavior

Ø  Life transitions

Ø  Extracurricular activities

Ø  Obsessive Compulsive –Disorder

 Prevention of Eating Disorder:-

Ø  Avoid talking about dieting in front of kids

Ø  Parents should be a role model for their kids and save their child from being a patient of eating disorder

Ø  Talk to the kids and make the feeling of healthy body

Ø  Stop judging yourself with others for body weight and shape

Ø  Avoid the articles and advertisements which make you feel bad about your body weight and shape.

Ø  Everyone is their own beautiful and weight does not make you who you are.

Ø  Speak out about your issues

Ø  Confide within trusted friends and family

    Complications of Eating Disorder

Ø  Physical development problems

Ø  Constipation

Ø  Losing control on yourself from eating

Ø  Drug abuse

Ø  Thinking of Suicide

Ø  Deaths

                                 ( By Garima Kaushik, Volunteer, Editorial Dept. Advanced Healthcare Foundation)