An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that adversely affect a person’s physical or mental health. Although eating disorders affect both men and women in terms of physical health as well as mental psyche, cases are found ten times more in women. They are not only limited to people of young age, instead, it is common among all ages. However, eating disorders are more likely to develop during adolescence and early adulthood. Concern about body weight and self-expression play an important role in the occurrence of eating disorders.
According to epidemiologists, eating disorders have increased in over 50 years in girls. Adolescents are concerned with their weight, body shape, and size. However, symptoms of eating disorders are prevalent among young adolescents as a result of the influence of social media and the idea of “the perfect figure” or “perfect body” on them. Preoccupation with food, body weight, and shape may also signal an eating disorder.
Some common symptoms of eating disorders include:
- Weight fluctuations
- Frequent eating
- Imprudent exercise
- Frequent dieting
- Not taking meals on time or skipping meals
- Stomach pain
- Stop of menstrual cycle
- Constipation
- Mood swings
- Thinking constantly about body image
- Binge eating
There are 3 most common types of eating disorders.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia occurs in patients who have body image issues. They see themselves as fat and as a result, they start doing excessive exercise even if they are fit. People with anorexia nervosa have an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight. Anorexia is found to be a disease with the highest death rate and suicides. Genetic factors and cultural factors regarding ideals related to body shape have their influence on both males and females.
Bulimia Nervosa
Women having Bulimia eat in excessive quantities and later feelings of shame and guilt make them eliminate the calories by purging. Vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise, or fast behaviours are associated with bulimia. One symptom of bulimia includes fluctuations in weight.
Binge eating
Binge eating disorders include excessive intake of food and they also avoid purging or fasting. They often eat quickly when are stressed. Which affects them and results in weight issues. They also develop feelings of depression and anxiety. If someone is binge eating regularly for at least once a week for several months can be said to have a binge eating disorder.
Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa are commonly seen among women as compared to males. There is more dissatisfaction with their weight and even if they are fit. There is a difference in tackling maintaining weight seen as in binge eating as girls mostly move for dieting and eating while boys do excessive exercise to maintain weight.
Epidemiology Studies
Causes of eating disorders
Reasons for the development of eating disorders are related to many factors which include weight concerns, social media influence, psychological disorders, emotional disorders, family, activity in which we are engaged, personality traits, childhood traumas and obesity, and many more. Weight concerns and social media influence are in some or the other way linked together. Nowadays adolescents and young age people have great exposure to mass media which occupies a large amount of time in the lives of young adults. Over some decades magazines and social platforms have flooded with the idea of the “perfect figure”, which has influenced people to lose weight and become an example of the “perfect body”. As eating disorders are linked with anxiety and low self-esteem, it has become a factor in eating disorders. Watching same-age people succeed and do great in their lives somehow makes an individual lose their self-esteem.
The reason women have more eating disorders is the history of sexual or verbal abuse which results in depression and negative feelings and gives rise to eating disorders. Family plays an important role in making an individual- parental indifference, a history of depression in the family, and relationships with others result in eating disorders. A person with a family member who had an eating disorder in the past is more likely to be affected by one. Therefore, genetic as well as biological factors play vital roles as factors in eating disorders. Participation in different activities that need a slim body or lean body makes an individual work out in excessive quantity to match the need of the specific activity.
Thus, there are multiple factors linked to eating disorders. Having some of these factors as symptoms does not predict that a person has eating disorders. However, if you feel that you have any of these symptoms or feel a burden about your appearance, eating etc. it is never too late to extend a hand seeking help. You can talk to your trusted ones or seek professional guidance from a therapist or counsellor.
Written by Rutvi Makwana | Edited by Nirjara Poptani
