Eating Disorder

Eating disorders affect several million people at any given time, most often women between the ages of 12 and 35. There are several types of eating disorders. The most common are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED).

Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions. They can be very serious conditions affecting physical, psychological, and social function. Types of eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder, Pica, and Rumination Disorder.

Common types of eating disorders are:

1)Anorexia Nervosa:

Anorexia (an-o-REK-see-uh), also called anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is defined by the restriction of nutrient intake relative to requirements, which leads to significantly low body weight. Patients with this eating disorder will have a fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, with the inability to comprehend the seriousness of their condition.

Anorexia may include severely limiting calories or cutting out certain kinds of foods or food groups. It may involve other methods to lose weight, such as exercising too much, using laxatives or diet aids, or vomiting after eating. Efforts to reduce weight can cause severe health problems, even for those who continue eating throughout the day or whose weight isn’t extremely low.

2) Bulimia Nervosa:

Bulimia (buh-LEE-me-uh), also called bulimia nervosa. Bulimia is a serious illness that causes severe problems with a person’s eating behaviors. It is marked by uncontrolled episodes of overeating, called bingeing. This is followed by purging with methods such as vomiting or misuse of laxatives, or water pills (diuretics).

Bingeing involves eating food — sometimes an extremely large amount — in a short period. During bingeing, people feel like they have no control over their eating and that they can’t stop. After eating, due to guilt, shame, or an intense fear of weight gain, purging is done to get rid of calories. Purging can include vomiting, exercising too much, not eating for a period, or using other methods, such as taking laxatives. Some people change medicine doses, such as changing insulin amounts, to try to lose weight.

3) Binge Eating Disorder:

Binge-eating disorder involves eating food in a short amount of time. When bingeing, it feels like there’s no control over eating. But binge eating is not followed by purging. During a binge, people may eat food faster or eat more food than planned. Even when not hungry, eating may continue long past feeling uncomfortably full.

After a binge, people often feel a great deal of guilt, disgust, or shame. They may fear gaining weight. They may try to severely limit eating for periods. This leads to increased urges to binge, setting up an unhealthy cycle. Embarrassment can lead to eating alone to hide bingeing. A new round of bingeing commonly occurs at least once a week.

4) Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder includes extremely limited eating or not eating certain foods. The pattern of eating often doesn’t meet minimum daily nutritional needs. This may lead to problems with growth, development, and functioning in daily life. But people with this disorder don’t have fears about gaining weight or body size. Instead, they may not be interested in eating or may avoid food with a certain color, texture, smell, or taste. Or they may worry about what can happen when eating. For example, they may have a fear of choking or vomiting, or they may worry about getting stomach problems.

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder can be diagnosed in all ages, but it’s more common in younger children. The disorder can result in major weight loss or failure to gain weight in childhood. A lack of proper nutrition can lead to major health problems.

5) Pica eating disorder

Pica is an eating disorder in which a person eats things not usually considered food. Young kids often put non-food items (like grass or toys) in their mouths because they’re curious about the world around them. But kids with pica (PIE-kuh) go beyond that. Sometimes they eat things that can lead to health problems.

The pica is usually a manifestation of an underlying medical condition, most often iron deficiency anemia. Yet compulsive eating, especially of inedible objects, can be a source of considerable embarrassment or ridicule.

6) Rumination:

Rumination syndrome (also known as rumination disorder or merycism) is a feeding and eating disorder in which undigested food comes back up from a person’s stomach into his or her mouth (regurgitation). Once the food is back in the mouth, the person may chew it and swallow it again, or spit it out.

It is a condition in which someone repeatedly regurgitates undigested or partially digested food from the stomach. The regurgitated food is then chewed again and swallowed or spit out. People with rumination syndrome don’t try to regurgitate food. It happens without any effort.

Other eating disorders

In addition to the six eating disorders mentioned, other less-known or less common eating disorders also exist.

These include:

1. Purging disorder: People with purging disorder use vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, or excessive exercise to control their weight or shape. However, they do not binge eat.
2. Night eating syndrome: People with this syndrome frequently eat excessively at night, often after awakening from sleep.
3. Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED): This is an umbrella term for conditions that have symptoms similar to those of an eating disorder but don’t fit any of that.

Signs & Symptoms

Behavioural and Emotional Signs

1. Habits and practices to lose weight, including dieting and control of food intake
2. Obsession with weight and dieting
3. Becoming pickier about food choices
4. Discomfort with eating in front of other people
5. Excessive chewing appears as if they are eating normally
6. Skipping meals or taking small portions of food at regular meals

Physical symptoms

1. Noticeable fluctuations in weight (both gains and losses)
2. Stomach cramps, Constipation, Acid reflux
3. Menstrual irregularities, including loss of periods or missed periods
4. Difficulty concentrating or sustaining attention
5. Dizziness or fainting, especially after standing up, and sleeping problems
6. Dental problems like enamel erosion, cavities, and tooth sensitivity
7. Dry skin, hair, and nails

Treatments:

Treatments for eating disorders vary by type but could include:

1. Psychotherapy: A mental health professional can determine the best type of therapy for your situation. Options include individual, group, and family therapy. Many people with eating disorders choose cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
2. Medications: You may have other conditions, like anxiety or depression, with an eating disorder. Taking antidepressants, antipsychotics, or other medications may improve these conditions.
3. Nutrition counselling: A registered dietitian with training in eating disorders can help improve eating habits and develop nutritious meal plans. This specialist can also offer tips for grocery shopping, meal planning, and preparation.

How a professional can help with eating disorders

A professional, such as a therapist, counsellor, or registered dietitian, can help individuals with eating disorders in several ways:

1. Assessment and diagnosis: Identifying the specific eating disorder and its severity.
2. Personalized treatment planning: Developing a tailored plan to address physical and emotional needs.
3. Therapy and counselling: Providing evidence-based treatments, such as CBT or DBT, to address underlying issues.
4. Nutrition education and meal planning: Guiding healthy eating habits and meal planning.
5. Support and accountability: Offering ongoing support and encouragement.
6. Family involvement: Involving family members in the treatment process.
7. Collaboration with healthcare team: Working with other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care.

Professionals can help individuals develop coping strategies, improve body image, and work towards recovery.

Conclusion:

Eating disorders often co-occur with other psychiatric disorders, most commonly mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and alcohol and substance use disorders. Evidence suggests that genes and heritability play a part in why some people are at higher risk for an eating disorder. Still, these disorders can also afflict those with no family history of the condition. Treatment should address psychological, behavioral, nutritional, and other medical complications. The latter can include consequences of malnutrition or purging behaviors, including heart and gastrointestinal problems, as well as other potentially fatal conditions. Ambivalence towards treatment, denial of a problem with eating and weight, or anxiety about changing eating patterns is not uncommon. With proper medical care, however, those with eating disorders can resume healthy eating habits and recover their emotional and psychological health.