What did Princess Diana, Karen Carpenter, and Angelina Jolie have in common? You guessed it. Anorexia and other eating disorders are common and serious conditions. Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate among all psychiatric illnesses. In Singapore, 7.4 per cent of females (aged 12 to 26) are at risk of developing an eating disorder. Although men can also suffer from eating disorders, the condition is more prevalent among adolescent girls. However, the condition is not permanent. Eating disorders are treatable. Someone who suffers from it can often reclaim a new healthy lifestyle.
Eating disorders are associated with obsessive dieting or eating. But in fact, they are complex mental illnesses that arise from psychological and emotional issues. A person suffering from eating disorders will have thoughts centred around food and body weight. These are mainly coping mechanisms to help them deal with difficult emotions such as anxiety, depression, and shame. Thus eating disorders are simply not a choice but rather a serious clinical condition.
Types of eating disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa is when a person partially or completely abstains from food in fear of gaining weight. They usually have a distorted image of themselves and perceive themselves as being overweight. As such they avoid food at all costs and in some cases preoccupied with exercising, in fear of gaining weight.
Bulimia Nervosa is when a person overeats uncontrollably over a short period. It’s frequently brought about by emotions and followed by a guilty feeling that leads them to self-induced purging, taking laxatives, or extreme fasting. The symptoms of bulimia are usually sore throat, swollen salivary gland, and severe dehydration due to forceful purging and laxatives.
Binge-eating is related to bulimia with one significant difference – they do not resort to purging or excessive exercising. This makes binge-eaters overweight or obese. Someone who binge eats usually does it alone or at home, away from others so that nobody can see them. They turn to food for comfort as a way of dealing with emotional issues, resulting in a feeling of guilt and self-loathing.
Some answers…
Eating disorders are rooted in emotional pain rather than food or weight. Therefore, simply changing the way someone eats will not help overcome the problem. Instead, those suffering from eating disorders need to first identify their feelings and learn to manage them healthily. In time, they will become more resilient than the disorder itself. Parents, close friends, and even teachers can all play a crucial role in initial intervention. Early symptoms may not always be obvious but unusual habits such as excessive exercising or frequent visits to the bathroom after a meal could be some of the telltale signs. Someone experiencing eating disorders is struggling with extreme emotional pain and does need clinical help. And therapy is the stepping stone in the healing journey.