“ Don’t let that number on the scale rule you.”
What is an Eating Disorder?
A persistent disturbance of eating behavior or behavior intended to control weight, which significantly impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning
Despite the name, eating disorder is not restricted to just food-related problems. It may start as an obsession with food, maintaining low body weight, or a sense of control and makes the individual go to extreme ends to meet these goals.
Multiple factors are implicated in causing this diseases
- Genetic factors
- Sociocultural factors
- Family influence
- Peer influence
Types of Eating Disorder:
Below are some of the common eating disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that leads to weight loss or decreased growth in children. They fail to achieve weight as per height, and age. This is usually accompanied by distorted body image. Anorexia Nervosa patient sees themselves as overweight (though they are not or are even underweight), and decrease their food intake. They live with the intense fear of weight gain and fail to recognize that they are dangerously underweight. Some people with the disorder also exercise excessively or purge via vomiting and laxatives.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors to undo the effects of overeating such as self-induced vomiting or using laxatives. These behaviors can have serious physical complications. They live with the fear of being overweight though they are usually at a normal weight range.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder is recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food uncontrollably till they feel uncomfortably full in a short period of time. During this episode, they have a feeling of a loss of control and later on feel shame, distress, or guilt. Over a period of time, they may develop weight gain and lifestyle disorders because of this.
Orthorexia:
People with orthorexia become so fixated on so-called ‘healthy eating’ that they actually damage their own well-being. Though some amount of knowledge and application of healthy food habits is good people with orthorexia go on to extremes and are constantly preoccupied with food labels, ingredients, food blogs, etc, and spend a significant amount of time on this.
Pica
Where the person craves and eats non-food items, which puts them at an increased risk of getting poisoned, infected, or injured.
Rumination Disorder
Rumination disorder involves the regular regurgitation of food that he/she had recently eaten that occurs for at least one month. They do not appear to be making an effort, nor do they appear to be stressed, upset, or disgusted.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
People with this disorder limit the amount and/or types of food consumed. They do not express any distress about body shape or size, or fears of fatness. This avoidance is mostly related to texture, color, smell, and other sensory characteristics of food. They may also fear the consequences of eating a particular food
What are the treatments for Eating disorders?
Eating disorders are complex in their presentation and a patient-centered approach from a qualified team of professionals is essential for recovery. Support and understanding from family and friends form a significant part of the treatment of eating disorders
Just like symptoms, the treatments for eating disorder varies from type to type and from person to person. It will involve a set of planned steps, starting from assessment by a multidisciplinary team to developing a healthy relationship with food and understanding its importance. Treatment would involve extensive psychotherapy along with medications Call +91 9811006930 and speak to any of our office staff to learn more or schedule an appointment.
