Eating and Weight Disorder
Have you noticed that a friend of family member have changed their eating habits in order to fit into certain clothes or play different types of sports? Do you notice that your friend is constantly talking about their body and weight, even though they appear to be healthy? Your loved one may be dealing with one of many eating and weight disorder, and the more you know about these conditions, the more you can do to help.
One of the most common forms of eating and weight disorder is anorexia nervosa. This condition is characterized by excessive dieting, which leads to very unhealthy weight loss. Individuals who are anorexic are constantly striving for perfection, and believe that they can never by small enough. The only way that these people will feel ‘good’ or as if they are in control is if they are able to make themselves get smaller by not eating. The early stages of this and other eating and weight disorder can be characterized by patients constantly looking at themselves in the mirror, or making excuses for not having to eat in public.
Other eating and weight disorder include bulimia nervosa, in which patients binge eat and then purge in order to get rid of the food. Bulimics feel guilty after they eat, yet they continue on this unhealthy cycle because they do not have a positive view of their own self worth. They are very concerned about getting the approval of others, and food is the only way they think they can comfort themselves. However, unlike anorexics, individuals who are bulimic are more aware of the fact that they are in need of counseling and treatment, and are much more likely to seek help.
Binge eating is one of the eating and weight disorder that is similar to bulimia, except individuals do not use any form of purging after eating. There are extreme feelings of guilt, and these patients feel extremely out of control during and after eating. Depression and anxiety are also common symptoms of this disorder, so make sure that your loved one is not switching moods without warning, since this could definitely be a sign that there is a serious health problem.
You’ll also need to be a little more aware of the myths, as well as the realities, of eating and weight disorder. For instance, you’ll need to understand that food disorder is not just about food–it is a mental disorder, and the only way to treat it is to counsel a patient to repair psychological disorders. It is also encouraging to know that eating and weight disorder are possible to treat, but it will take time to completely recover. Dedication is what it will take to fully ‘heal’ from the disorder, and teenage girls are not the only ones that suffer from this condition. It can happen to anyone, but help is available for all patients.
