Presented by BetterHelp.
Upon hearing the term “eating disorder,” most people are likely to conjure up an image of food in their minds. While eating disorders do involve food, they’re so much more than that, as they affect how people view their bodies and feel about themselves.
Many people assume that eating disorders can be overcome by simply choosing healthy eating habits, but the reality is that these disorders are not a choice. Rather, they’re mental health conditions that impact people’s relationship with diet and exercise. The longer eating disorders are left untreated, the more and more powerful they typically become.
In this article, we’ll discuss what eating disorders are, cover the most common types, and explore their causes. Finally, we’ll examine why early intervention can be so critical and go over the usual methods of support and treatment.
What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that cause people to have an unhealthy relationship with food. Individuals with an eating disorder may restrict their food intake, overeat, purge after meals, or excessively exercise—depending on the specific type of disorder they have. Eating disorders can be harmful to a person’s physical and mental well-being. In some cases, they can even lead to death when left untreated.
Types Of Eating Disorders
While there are many kinds of eating disorders, three of the most common are anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa. Below is a description of what each one usually entails:
- Anorexia nervosa: Those living with anorexia nervosa feel that they’re overweight, even when they’re significantly thin. They often eat very little to no calories and may engage in excessive exercise, intensely fearful that they’ll gain weight.
- Binge eating disorder: People with binge eating disorder feel unable to stop eating, even when they’re full. They also tend to eat unusually large amounts of food and typically do so in secret. It’s common for these individuals to feel shameful about their behavior, which may only cause them to eat more.
- Bulimia nervosa: When someone has bulimia nervosa, they eat large amounts of food and purge it afterward, which typically causes them to feel incredibly shameful and reinforces a cycle of overeating and vomiting. They may also exercise excessively and restrict their diet to avoid gaining weight.
No matter which of these eating disorders someone is struggling with, they tend to consume the individual’s life more and more over time.
What Causes Eating Disorder?
What causes binge eating, anorexia, bulimia, and other kinds of eating disorders? Every case is different, but some of the potential causes include:
- Trauma
- Family history
- Perfectionist tendencies
- Negative body image
- Bullying
- Society’s beauty standards
- Other mental health disorders
- High levels of stress
- A history of dieting/food restriction
- Seeking a sense of control in one’s life
- Low self-esteem
Experts generally agree that eating disorders stem from a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors. This means that when someone develops an eating disorder, it’s usually a result of multiple factors rather than one singular event.
Overcoming Eating Disorders
Getting support for eating disorders is vital, as they can have devastating consequences for those who live with them. People with these disorders may develop weak muscles, low blood pressure, or a slow pulse, leading to chronic or life-threatening medical conditions. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles can also be common. Eating disorders have the highest rate of mortality of any mental illness and those experiencing them are at a higher risk of suicide. This makes it essential to find support and treatment as soon as possible.
Given the pervasive nature of eating disorders, they often necessitate some form of professional intervention. This might involve therapy, medical care, inpatient support, nutritional counseling, medication, lifestyle changes, or a mixture of one or more of these methods. The needs of every person vary, meaning that treatment plans are likely to look different depending on the individual’s unique circumstances.
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel
Living with an eating disorder can feel all-consuming, as every aspect of one’s life may revolve around the condition. However, there is hope and healing available for those who reach out for support. Working with a qualified team of professionals can prove instrumental in creating an effective treatment plan that takes the individual’s unique needs, symptoms, and circumstances into account.
Eating disorders can take significant time to overcome, but because these disorders can affect a person’s life so deeply, healthy habits must be developed to set the individual up for a lifetime of success. With consistency, perseverance, and a positive mindset geared toward change, it is possible to create a path to a healthier, happier lifestyle.
