What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is a complex illness that is affected by psychological, social, familial, and genetic factors. Having an eating disorder means that certain behaviors related to food and eating are often used to cope with stress, underlying emotional issues, and/or past trauma and abuse. There are many types of eating disorders but the most well known are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
Anorexia is characterized by low body weight, severe body distortions, and extreme fear of gaining weight. Women with anorexia often control their weight through starvation, purging, excessive exercising, or diet pills.
Bulimia is characterized by periods of binge eating followed by intentional methods of purging, such as self-induced vomiting. Women with bulimia also tend to have a distorted body image.
Can an eating disorder be dangerous?
Absolutely! Eating disorders are very serious and have extreme medical consequences. These can include heart problems, gastrointestinal problems, electrolyte imbalance, seizures, osteoporosis, dehydration, teeth erosion, high blood pressure, loss of menstruation, irritable bowel syndrome, liver damage, and ultimately death.
What are some signs to look out for?
Anorexia:
- Weight loss
- Irritability
- Lack of interest in social activities
- Fear or anxiety about gaining weight
- Increased interest in exercise or dieting
- Excessive body checking and weighing oneself
- Counting calories
- Sleep disturbances
- Weakness & fatigue
- Loss of menstruation
- Hair loss
Bulimia:
- Fluctuation in weight, either gain or loss
- Irritability
- Eating excessive amounts between or during meals
- Irregular periods
- Constipation/diarrhea
- Depression
- Lethargy or fatigue
- Feeling like you need to "get rid of" food after you eat
- Swollen glands
Are some people more likely to get eating disorders than others?
Women are almost ten times more likely to be diagnosed with an eating disorder than men. Eating disorders also tend to be more prevalent among adolescents and college age women. However, women of all ages are susceptible and cases have been seen in girls as young as six years old and in women through their 70’s.
Eating disorders are a growing problem. Knowing who is at risk for developing an eating disorder can help parents and patients as they work through the recovery process.
- They are often perfectionists, and strive to be perfect even with their eating disorder.
- Most often women with eating disorders come from a high socio-economic status.
- More white, upper middle class women have an eating disorder than any other demographic.
- These women are often “people pleasers” and avoid conflict.
- Women with eating disorders are highly sensitive to the emotions and comments of others.
Can an eating disorder be cured?
The behaviors that characterize an eating disorder can be stopped. However, there is no ‘quick fix’. Recovery is a long process, and women with eating disorders must learn to deal with certain stressors, emotional issues, and society pressures that perpetuate the unhealthy behaviors. Continued treatment, including outpatient therapy, psychiatric consultations, and nutrition management is highly recommended.
Is an eating disorder an addiction? And how is it different from other types of addictions?
Many consider eating disorders an addiction. Women with anorexia or bulimia become accustomed to certain behavioral patterns. Compulsive engagement in these behaviors, such as purging after every meal, becomes routine and it is difficult for women to stop the cycle.
Eating disorders are highly complex and are inherently difficult to treat. In other addictions, the proposed method of treatment is to remove the addicting stimulus, i.e. drugs and alcohol. But with eating disorders, we can’t remove the food. Women must face their fears and anxiety about eating and weight gain head on.
Addiction Transfer
Often, women with eating disorders label themselves as having an “addictive personality.” It is possible that they have been addicted to alcohol, shopping, relationships, or even work at one time or another. They use external activities or stimuli to fill a void in their life. At Serenity, we are aware of this practice called Addiction Transfer, and we work to substitute unhealthy addictions with life building skills and fulfilling activities.
We work with our patients to understand the motivation behind their eating disorder, the triggers, and the potential for addiction transfer. We explore the possibility of harmony and create a sense of balance in our client’s lives.