Everyone is familiar with the term Eating Disorder. As per the National Institute of Mental health, eating disorder can be considered as a very serious illness that can create a lot of disturbance to a person’s eating patterns. With this disorder by your side, living healthy life is not possible, as this can create in the person an over consciousness about their body’s shape as well as weight. It can also create harm to the health.
People with eating disorders may consume food in an abnormal manner. Either they eat more or they eat less. This is a stage that cannot be controlled by them, as per the American Psychiatric Association APA, 2005.
It is during the adolescence period that such a disorder forms shape. It can be seen that women are more prone to fall into this disorder. The eating disorder that is seen in children and teenagers is very dangerous, as it can even lead to death. It would be wise for parents to immediately contact a pediatrician if you find your child falling into an eating disorder.
Types of Eating Disorders
Mainly there are four types of eating disorders:
Females are the ones who are seen to be affected by this eating disorder. Those having Anorexia Nervosa have an innate feeling of anxiety of gaining excess weight. Such people do not eat the right amount of food their body needs, even if they feel really hungry. Such group of people usually finds themselves fat even if they have less body weight. People with Anorexia Nervosa are believed to have a lot of problems like family problems, low confidence and even weight problem. The majority of them might have had bad experiences in life relating to weight problem. This actually makes them follow an uncontrolled diet, over do exercises, that can ultimately lead them to a condition called bulimia. Studies show that mental disorders in people can also create a lot of chemical changes in the brain. Neurotransmitter abnormality like serotonin can be the main reason for this kind of eating disorder. Extreme sensitivity to the weather, constant exercising for maintaining the perfect weight, hair loss, dryness of skin, missing of menstrual periods, irritating behavior and lack of concentration are the major symptoms of this condition. People with Anorexia need to consult a doctor immediately and correct the condition at the earliest.
Like Anorexia, Bulimia Nervosa is also a condition that threatens the life of the person affected. This is a mental ailment that is closely related to depression, alcoholism, higher level of low self esteem and even the tendency for self harm. Those suffering from bulimia excessively indulge in the consumption of food in a repeated mode. They then try to force the food consumed from their body with the help of laxatives or even by vomiting. Such an act is done by them due to the consciousness of their weight or body size. This condition is usually seen in women than in men. Though the reasons for this condition is now known, we understand that a lot of factors help in developing this disorder. Some of them are psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, low self esteem and stress disorder. It can also affect a person due to heredity. Apart from these factors, it can occur because of social needs and also the criteria of a particular profession. People with bulimia need to go for psychological treatment so as to control their disorder. With the help of anti depression medicines, this could be controlled.
This is a very common kind of eating disorder found in the U.S. It usually affects women than men. People who are looking for weight loss methods fall for this disorder. Thos suffering from binge eating disorder gradually lose their control over the food they consume. The affected person usually will be obese as they do not tend to do exercise or fast or vomit after they eat. This will actually lead to cardiovascular disease. They will try to skip their social activities, work, and even school just to eat food. Since they feel bad about their body and themselves, they usually do not go to any social gathering. Treatment for this condition is to undergo therapy and have nutrition education along with the right medical treatment.
This is an eating disorder which creates impairment or any kind of serious difficulty for the person suffering. A Person suffering from EDNOS have low weight, bulimia nervosa, eats continuously without any break, tend to eat during night hours, have purged disorder, consume restrictive food, and more. To control this condition, you need to visit your doctor and go on a strict diet.
Eating disorders can create a lot of health issues to the person affected. So as to avoid this, one needs to strictly follow a healthy lifestyle and eat good healthy food in a regular interval of time.
