Eating Disorders
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The term 'eating disorder' covers 3 main conditions affecting a person's eating habits.
- Anorexia Nervosa- a condition where individuals will intentionally refrain from eating.
- Binge eating disorder- a condition where individuals will intentionally overeat.
- Bulimia Nervosa- a condition where individuals will alternate between binge eating and starving themselves.
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Why do people develop eating disorders?
All three eating disorders occur when a person develops an unhealthy, abnormal relationship with food. Often a sufferer will judge the value of their self-worth depending on their weight. They may believe that if they are too fat, others will think they are worthless or inferior to slimmer people.
People with anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder tend to set their sights on an unattainable weight-loss goal with the idea that once achieved, they will find acceptance and relief.
Commonly, this unhealthy relationship with food is provoked by underlying emotional or psychological issues such as trauma, anxiety or stress.
How are eating disorders treated?
Each eating disorder is unique to the individual who develops it. This means that the course of treatment taken will depend on the cause and severity of each case and could involve therapy, prescribed medication, or hospitalisation- according to urgency.
Are eating disorders serious?
Bulimia and anorexia tend to involve long periods of fasting. Fasting is when a person will eat as little as possible or nothing at all in order to lose weight. Fasting can lead to severe malnourishment resulting in life-threatening health complications such as dehydration or organ failure.
Binge eating can lead to obesity, which causes problems like diabetes, stroke, heart attack and heart disease.
It is very important that people with eating disorders get help as soon as possible.
Many people with eating disorders will feel reluctant to ask for help. For them, eating is a sensitive, highly personal and often secretive activity. Getting help can often be the most difficult part.
If you suspect that you, a family member or a friend has an eating disorder, then it is advisable to look out for the following clues:
- Food obsession- always talking about food, worrying about weight or appearance.
- Fussy about food- may cut food into small pieces to make it look like something has been eaten.
- Secretive- may dislike eating in front of others or may hoard food.
- Self-induced vomiting- part of the bulimia 'purge' stage. Look out for leaving the table straight after dinner, sore throat, bad breath, decaying teeth, scars on the knuckles.
- Fluctuating weight/ very skinny.
Symptoms always depend on the type of eating disorder and can vary from person to person.
How can a nutritionist help with eating disorders?
If you have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, you may have been referred to a health care team specialising in your particular condition. This team usually consists of a combination of nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists and dieticians. These experts will be on hand to assist and support you throughout the recovery process.
If you are malnourished and require re-feeding, emphasis will be placed on correcting any biochemical imbalances in your body (deficiencies in any vital nutrients) before you can begin regaining weight. Priority will also be given to addressing any possible underlying psychological problems and improving your negative relationship with food.
After the initial treatment, you will usually be left to try to maintain the new changes in all areas of your life and refrain from reverting to old eating habits. This can be a tiring and stressful time, especially when food is so closely connected to your moods.
A nutritionist can be on hand to offer that branch of support you might feel you need. Qualified nutritionists are food experts- they are trained to understand that your needs may vary from those of someone with a different condition. They always aim to factor in your own wishes and requirements so you're never made to feel uncomfortable.
Becoming educated about food is the first step towards building a positive relationship with it. A nutritionist can be available even after you have recovered from the initial symptoms of your eating disorder.
For more information about different types of eating disorder, please visit the following pages:
--All content displayed on Nutritionist Resource is provided for general information purposes only, and should not be treated as a substitute for advice given by your GP or any other healthcare professional. Whilst some people have benefited from nutritional therapy, no claims can be made to treat, cure or heal specific conditions, and we strongly advise individuals with any health problem to seek independent medical advice from their GP before considering nutritional therapy.