Eating disorders are a topic that is difficult to talk about, we can even argue that it is not yet socially accepted. However, it exists and we cannot help but pay attention to it, especially now that its presence in our daily lives during periods of physical distancing and absence of support is greatly enhanced. But the above reasons are rather accelerators, not causes, per se.
In order to be able to define what we call an eating disorder, we need to know that its meaning goes much further than the attitude towards food. It is a psychological condition that relates both to the attitude to food and to the body, lack of acceptance of one's own personality and low self-esteem, developing unhealthy eating habits. These violations are described in all classifiers - ICD 10, DSM - 5, AAPD.
In America, statistics show that about 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from Eating Disorders, which reflects the prevalence of this disorder in women. In teens, again in the US, 13% of youth experience at least one eating disorder before they turn 20 (healthline.com)
According to data from the Unikal Institute in Bulgaria, about 250,000 people have been diagnosed with a similar problem, and 12% of them are children under the age of 12. For the period 2019-2020, women visiting a nutritionist for eating disorders increased by 23%. According to the National Statistical Institute, the cause of death of about 0.6% of those who died in Bulgaria in 2020 were eating disorders. Again from NSI, teenage girls are more often diagnosed with eating disorders, and for the last 10 years their number has risen by 80%, just for Bulgaria. Here is the moment to take into account that many of the people with similar disorders are not diagnosed and are not part of the presented statistics.
Eating disorders fall into four groups.
Anorexia nervosa - an eating disorder involving life-threatening starvation, characterized by unrealistic body view, extremely low weight, and an obsessive pursuit of weight loss.
Bulimia nervosa – combines periods of binge eating with periods of purging, including induced vomiting, laxative abuse, or excessive physical exertion in order to avoid weight gain.
Binge-eating disorder (hyperphagia) – involves frequently repeated episodes of rapid and unrestricted eating, of amounts exceeding the capacity of the eater in a very short time, feeling uncontrollable (Carnabucci & Ciotola, 2013).
Non-specific eating disorders - this group of disorders has a rather wide spectrum, excluding the symptoms of the above, but can include excessive application of diets, dietary regimes, overstraining the body.
There are other eating disorders not mentioned in the classifiers that also greatly affect the life cycle of the sufferer - Eating non-food products, overchewing, vomiting and re-swallowing, Night Eating Syndrome, etc.
Causes for Eating Disorders
The first reason we can mention is family burden - both genetic and family attitudes towards food. Especially in young children, when parents limit or forbid feeding, the child loses its natural sense of satiety. Also, parents' need to have the "perfect child" leads, especially teenagers, but not only, to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and from there to eating disorders.
Social pressure is also a cause of food abuse or deprivation. Because often teenagers, but also women even at an older age, have the desire to look like liked and popular personalities and tend to put themselves on severe and strict diets, and sometimes complete refusal of food, in order to reduce their weight.
Among the reasons we can include stress, ridicule from others, dysfunctions in the family environment, deep hidden personality problems, non-acceptance and hatred of the body caused by the launch of stereotypes, especially in the media, etc.
What are the indicators to pay attention to:
- Unrealistic body view, body hatred;
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain, without medical reasons;
- Refusal to eat in public or social gatherings involving food;
- Systematic refusal to eat, attempts to lie about the amount of food taken;
- Change in the way of dressing - loose clothes or several layers of clothes are worn more often;
- Hidden food, hidden packages of food;
- Spending a large part of the daily life in sports or a constant need to follow dietary regimes; and others.
In adolescents, but not only, eating disorders can have severe and long-lasting consequences for their physical development. From stunting of growth and cessation of menstruation (in girls), to anemias, changes in body structure, diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver, digestive tract, teeth and gums, throat, etc. There are also disorders in intellectual development, cognitive processes, behavior.
Often people with eating disorders do not accept or deny that they have a problem with food. Entering this topic with them is extremely delicate, but important and necessary. There is no age limit, and the consequences can be lifelong.
The way to deal with eating disorders begins with a consultation with a doctor. But in this situation, drug treatment can control the symptoms, but not overcome the main reason for the appearance of the disorder, so that there is no regression. Therefore, if you have doubts and concerns about your health or that of a loved one, consult the necessary specialists, not forgetting a psychotherapist who can support treatment with therapeutic techniques.