Today we will be discussing eating disorders, a group of mental illnesses that affect approximately 8% of the United States population 1. While these disorders are commonly labeled fake or optional, eating disorders can cause significant emotional and physical distress, and, without treatment, they can potentially lead to hospitalization or death. In this post, we will be defining an eating disorder, while investigating the symptoms and habits of individuals diagnosed with three different types of eating disorders.

An eating disorder is a harmful obsession with food, body weight, body shape, or physical appearance that triggers various kinds of unhealthy eating habits. While this can affect the type of food someone consumes, eating disorders often alter the way an individual actually approaches food consumption. The exact cause of an eating disorder is typically unique to the individual, but factors such as cultural pressure, peer pressure, impulsivity, and low self-esteem may increase the risk of developing an eating disorder. Many of these factors play a particularly large role in the lives of adolescents and young adults, which may explain why eating disorders are most common within this age group. Approximately 90% of individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder are female; however, females are far more likely than the remaining 10% of males to receive proper treatment. Please note that eating disorders can have the same detrimental impact on all genders if left untreated.

Individuals struggling with an eating disorder may be diagnosed with one of three illnesses: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or Binge Eating Disorder (BED). The first, Anorexia Nervosa, is typically characterized by the denial of food or self-starvation. Individuals diagnosed with anorexia may refuse to eat for extended periods of time or choose to purge, which is when an individual forces themselves to vomit after eating a meal. It is also common for individuals diagnosed with anorexia to over-exercise, which may lead to physical exhaustion or injury. Other symptoms of anorexia include: social isolation, apathy, and a fear of consuming food in public. Anorexia is commonly triggered by a fear of obesity, stimulating the individual to make drastic alterations to their diet and exercise routine. If left untreated, individuals with anorexia may experience severe physical problems due to nutritional deficiencies.

Individuals diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa may participate in regular binging and purging rituals. It is common for individuals struggling with bulimia to quickly consume a large amount of food, then attempt to eject the food from their bodies. Individuals diagnosed with bulimia may repeat this process daily, which can have a number of negative effects on weight and nutrition. Like anorexia, bulimia is often associated with unhappiness related to body image and social withdrawal. Individuals diagnosed with bulimia may also experience intense guilt or shame related to their dieting habits.

An individual diagnosed with BED may also perform binges, but typically will not attempt to purge the food after consumption. Individuals diagnosed with BED commonly eat to the point of physical discomfort, which may trigger feelings of humiliation, depression, or shame.

If you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder or any of the symptoms listed above, please seek help from a local Spokane, WA mental health care professional. Reach out to Damaris through her contact page or calling 509-342-6592.

References:

1 Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the national comorbidity survey replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61(3), 348–358.