Eating Disorder:
A Threat To Life

We often indulge in unhealthy practices like binge eating and emotional
eating unconsciously. Sometimes we get blindly stuck in this loop of
anxieties and binge-eating that we become unaware of such detrimental
habits. Not to forget the damage these diet-enforcing, thin-idolizing
communities have done to us on such a massive scale. Such conventional
beauty standards sometimes also lead people to practice harmful ways to
achieve that body shape. Most people become oblivious of all the negative
impacts of binge-eating and the obsession with attaining a particular body
form. This entails an urgency to understand the basics and an in-depth
knowledge of unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders. What if it’s an
eating disorder that you have developed that you feel might just be a strict
diet plan or binge-eating episodes?
WhatisEatingDisorder?

Eating disorders are caused due to uncontrollable eating habits
that harm your health, emotions, and ability to perform in day-to-
day activities. Predominantly, eating disorders entail obsessing
about your weight, food, and body shape, leading to unhealthy
eating habits. Eating disorders can ruin the health of your heart,
digestive system, bones, teeth, and mouth, as well as cause other
health problems. These unhealthy eating habits can also influence
your body's capacity to acquire enough nourishment.
WhatisEatingDisorder?

Eating disorders often develop in the teenage and young adult
years, although they can develop at other ages. With the correct
treatment, you can learn and get back to healthier eating habits
and sometimes get rid of severe complications caused by the eating
disorder.
The symptoms of eating disorders differ depending on the types of
disorders. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa,
bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorders. Other eating disorders
include Rumination disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake
disorder.
WhatisEatingDisorder?

Types of Eating Disorder

Anorexia Nervosa, often called anorexia, can be a life-threatening
eating disorder characterized by abnormally low body weight,
acute fear of gaining weight, and a false perception of weight or
shape. People with anorexia use extreme efforts to control their
weight and work on their body shape, which often significantly
hampers their health and life activities.
Anorexianervosa

Anorexianervosa
When you have anorexia, you excessively limit calories or use other
methods to lose weight, such as excessive exercise, using laxatives
or diet pills, or even vomiting after eating anything. Efforts to
reduce your weight, even when underweight, can cause severe
health problems, sometimes to the point of self-starvation.

Bulimia nervosa, commonly known as ‘Bulimia’, is a serious and life-
threatening eating disorder. When you have bulimia, you have episodes of
binging that involve feeling a lack of control over your eating. Many
people with bulimia also restrict themselves to eating during the day
which often leads to more binge-eating and purging.
Bulimianervosa

During these episodes, you typically eat a large amount of food in a short
time and then try to rid yourself of the extra calories in an unhealthy way.
Because of guilt, shame, and an intense fear of weight gain from
overeating, you may force vomiting, or you may exercise too much or use
other methods, such as laxatives, to get rid of the calories. If you have
bulimia, you're probably preoccupied with your weight and body shape
and may judge yourself harshly for your self-perceived flaws. You may be
at a normal weight or even a bit overweight.
Bulimianervosa

When you have a binge-eating disorder, you regularly eat too much food
(binge) and feel a lack of control over your eating. You may eat quickly or
eat more food than intended, even when you're not hungry, and you may
continue eating even long after you're uncomfortably full.
After a binge, you may feel guilty or ashamed of your behavior and the
amount of food eaten. But you don't try to compensate for this behavior
with excessive exercise or purging, as someone with bulimia or anorexia
might.
Binge-eatingdisorder

Rumination disorder is persistently and repeatedly regurgitating food
after eating. However, it's not due to a medical condition or another
eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder. Food
is brought back up into the mouth without gagging, or nausea and
regurgitation may not be intentional. Sometimes regurgitated food is
rechewed and swallowed or spit out. The disorder may result in
malnutrition if the food is spat out or if the person eats significantly less to
prevent the behavior. The occurrence of rumination disorder may be more
common in infancy or in people who have an intellectual disability.
Ruminationdisorder

This disorder is characterized by failing to meet your minimum daily
nutrition requirements because you don't have an interest in eating; you
avoid food with certain sensory characteristics, such as color, texture,
smell, or taste; or you're concerned about the consequences of eating,
such as fear of choking. Thus, you don't avoid food because of the fear of
gaining weight. This disorder can result in significant weight loss or failure
to gain weight in childhood, as well as nutritional deficiencies, causing
health problems.
Avoidant/restrictivefoodintakedisorder

Eating disorders are caused by different unclear factors, such as
biological, as with other mental diseases. Certain people may be
predisposed to eating problems due to genetic factors. Eating
disorders may also be caused by biological reasons, such as
changes in brain chemistry.
Mental and emotional well-being. Eating disorder sufferers may
have psychological and emotional issues that exacerbate the
condition. Low self-esteem, perfectionism, impulsive conduct, and
Causes

Teenage girls and young women are more likely to have anorexia
or bulimia, but men can have eating disorders, too. Although eating
disorders can occur at any age, they often develop in the teens
and early 20s.
Certain factors may increase the risk of developing an eating
disorder, including:
Riskfactors

Eating disorders are significantly more likely to
occur in people who have parents or siblings
having an eating disorder.
Family history

People with an eating disorder often have a
history of anxiety disorder, depression, or
obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Othermentalhealthdisorders

Dieting is a risk factor for developing an eating disorder.
It affects the brain and influences mood changes, rigidity
in thinking, anxiety, and reduction in appetite. There is
strong evidence that many of the symptoms of an eating
disorder are symptoms of starvation.
Dieting and starvation

Whether it is heading off to college, moving, landing a
new job, or a family or relationship issue, change can
bring stress, which may increase your risk of an eating
disorder.
Stress

Eating disorders can cause varied complications such
as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. It may
hamper your growth. The more severe and long-
lasting these habits are, the more likely you will
experience these complications.

Way to prevent
eating disorders

Way to prevent eating disorders
Avoid following a diet around them- Family dining habits may
influence the relationships that children develop with food. Eating
meals together allows you to teach your child about the pitfalls of
dieting and encourages eating a balanced diet in reasonable
portions.
Sit and talk to them- For example, numerous websites promote
dangerous ideas, such as viewing anorexia as a lifestyle choice
rather than an eating disorder. It's crucial to correct any
misperceptions like this and to talk to them about the risks of
unhealthy eating choices.

Way to prevent eating disorders
Cultivate and reinforce a healthy body image- Whatever the shape or
size of the body is, talk to your child about self-image, and offer
reassurance that body shapes can vary. Avoid criticizing your own
body in front of your family or friend. Positive conversations and
messages of acceptance and respect can help build healthy self-
esteem and resilience that will carry them through the rocky periods
of their teen years.

If you observe a family member or a friend who shows signs of an eating
disorder, consider talking to that person about your concern for their well-
being. Although you may not be able to prevent an eating disorder from
developing, reaching out with compassion may encourage the person to
seek treatment.
Conclusion

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