The hallmarks of eating disorders are severe and ongoing disruptions in eating behaviors, along with the troubling feelings and thoughts that go along with them. These can be extremely dangerous conditions that interfere with social, psychological, and bodily functions. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, other specific feeding and eating disorder, pica, and rumination disorder are among the various types of eating disorders.
When combined, eating disorders can impact 5% of the population and typically arise during adolescence and early adulthood. Many can affect people of any age or gender, but some are more common in women, particularly bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Anxiety about eating or the effects of consuming particular foods, as well as obsessions with food, weight, or form, are frequently linked to eating disorders. The use of laxatives excessively, compulsive exercise, binge eating, vomiting, and restricting one’s diet are all behaviors linked to eating disorders. These actions have the potential to develop into habits that resemble addictions.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, mood and anxiety disorders, alcohol and substance use disorders, and eating disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders that co-occur with eating disorders. Research indicates that genetics and heredity may contribute to an individual’s increased susceptibility to eating disorders; however, eating disorders can also strike people who have no family history of the disorder. Psychological, behavioral, nutritional, and other medical complications should all be addressed during treatment. The latter can include potentially fatal conditions like heart and gastrointestinal issues, as well as the fallout from starvation or purging behaviors.
Different Eating Disorder Types
ANOREXIA NERVOSA
Self-starvation and weight loss that results in a low weight for height and age are characteristics of anorexia nervosa. Other than opioid use disorder, anorexia has the highest mortality rate among psychiatric diagnoses. It can also be a very serious illness. The body mass index, or BMI, which is a measurement of height for weight, is usually less than 18.5 in adults who have anorexia nervosa.
There are two subtypes of anorexia nervosa:
- Restricting type, in which individuals lose weight primarily by dieting, fasting or excessively exercising.
- Binge-eating/purging type in which persons also engage in intermittent binge eating and/or purging behaviors.
The following signs and symptoms of starvation or purging may appear over time:
Menstrual cycles end
fainting or dizziness due to dehydration
brittle nails or hair
Intolerance to cold, wasting and weakening of muscles
reflux and heartburn (in those who throw up)
extreme bloating, fullness, and constipation after meals
stress fractures brought on by obsessive exercise and bone loss that results in osteopenia or osteoporosis (bone thinning)
depression, agitation, nervousness, lack of focus, and exhaustion
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa sufferers usually alternate periods of binge eating “forbidden” high-calorie foods with dieting or restricting their diet to only low-calorie “safe foods.” Eating a lot of food in a short amount of time while feeling out of control of what or how much is consumed is known as binge eating. Typically, binge behavior is cloistered and linked to emotions of humiliation or guilt. Food is frequently consumed quickly, going beyond fullness to the point of nausea and discomfort, and binges can be extremely large.
Among the warning indicators of bulimia nervosa are:
frequent bathroom visits immediately following meals
Abrupt disappearance of large quantities of food, or mysterious empty wrappers and food containers
persistent sore throat
enlargement of the cheek salivary glands
dental decay brought on by stomach acid eroding tooth enamel
Heartburn and reflux of the stomach
Misuse of laxatives or diet pills
Frequent, inexplicable diarrhea
Abuse of water pills, or diuretics
Dehydration
Disorder of Binge Eating
Similar to bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder patients experience episodes of binge eating during which they eat a lot of food in a short amount of time, feel as though they have lost control over their eating, and are upset by their binge behavior. They do not, however, frequently engage in compensatory behaviors to get rid of the food, such as forcing vomiting, fasting, exercising, or abusing laxatives, unlike those who suffer from bulimia nervosa. Serious health issues like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders can be brought on by binge eating disorders.
In order to be diagnosed with binge eating disorder, a person must have frequent binges (at least once a week for three months), feel like they are out of control, and exhibit three or more of the following characteristics:
eating at a faster pace than usual.
eating until their stomachs hurt.
consuming a lot of food even when not hungry.
eating by themselves when they’re ashamed of how much they’re eating.
feeling extremely guilty, depressed, or disgusted with oneself following a binge.
Eating disorder treatments
Since every person is unique, there is no “one size fits all” method for treating eating disorders. Frequently, a group of medical specialists works together to treat you. A psychologist, dietitian, social worker, occupational therapist, and physician are a few examples of this.
Among the available treatment options are the following.
Psychoanalysis
A collection of therapies called psychotherapy is intended to assist you in altering your thought processes and strengthening your coping mechanisms. This typically entails going to the psychologist on a regular basis.
CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is a popular form of treatment. This supports you in recognizing and altering the ideas, emotions, and behaviors linked to your eating disorder.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an additional form of therapy. It supports you in accepting who you are and controlling your emotions.
Family approach
The ‘family approach’ is most common when young people are being treated for an eating disorder. The aim is to treat you, while also supporting and educating your entire family — which strengthens family relationships. The family learns how to care for the person with the eating disorder.
Nutrition education
A dietitian can help you learn healthy eating habits and behaviours. This will help you return to a healthy weight. They can also check that you get the right levels of vitamins and minerals.
ROLE OF PSHYCOLOGIST IN PREVENTING EATING DISORDER :
It’s critical to keep in mind that treating eating disorders does not require a one-size-fits-all strategy. Psychologists are essential members of the multidisciplinary teams that may be needed to provide patient care and can play a significant role in the treatment of eating disorders. A doctor may be consulted as part of this treatment to rule out illnesses and establish that the patient is not in imminent danger of harm. You might ask a nutritionist for assistance in evaluating and enhancing dietary intake.
To assist a patient in overcoming some of the negative thoughts and behaviors and substituting them with more constructive ones, a psychologist can assist in determining the underlying problems and creating a treatment plan.
However, it might not be sufficient to only alter one’s beliefs and actions. To help address the underlying psychological problems of the eating disorder, a psychologist may suggest evidence-based treatments like psychotherapy. Alternatively, it may be used to concentrate on enhancing one’s interpersonal relationships. It could entail supporting the person in overcoming the circumstance or incident that initially set off the disorder. Another useful tool in the fight against eating disorders is group therapy.
As part of their treatment plan, some patients may be prescribed medications; however, it’s crucial to heed your healthcare provider’s or mental health professional’s instructions regarding medication administration and potential side effects.
ROLE OF DIETICIAN IN PREVENTIMG EATING DISORDER :
Although each person’s journey toward recovery from an eating disorder is different, many underestimate the value of healthy meal planning and nutrition education. This is where nutritionists are useful.
Dietitians are, in short, trained specialists with the authority to counsel people regarding nutrition. They aid in a person’s rehabilitation and foster a positive eating relationship .
Extensive training is required for dietitians to accurately diagnose and treat eating disorders in a variety of ways:
Recognizing an individual’s eating habits and rituals
describing the process by which our bodies use food as fuel to perform daily tasks
educating people about the fact that all food, including sugar, fat, and carbohydrates, is not harmful
creating a planned meal schedule to teach patients how to balance their dietary intake
assessing their patients’ food consumption by looking at their vitals, weight, and any changes in how they relate to food.
Dietitians strive to dispel popular myths about food that people may have come across online or from other diet and nutrition-related sources. Additionally, they counsel patients on the detrimental effects that purging, bingeing, and restrictive dieting may have on their oral health. According to data, regardless of the specific subtype of eating disorder, people with eating disorders are five times more likely to experience tooth erosion and generalized higher levels of decay.
These steps are essential for those who are battling eating disorders in order to comprehend the negative effects of disordered eating, obtain understanding of their actions, and improve their relationship with food.