Despite society’s support of thin bodies and the recent pro-ana movement (more on that later), eating disorders aren’t a lifestyle, they’re a disorder. And they can have severe health complications.
Obsessions with food, body weight and shape can signal an eating disorder. Being ashamed to eat in front of people is also a big indicator of an eating disorder. The most common eating disorders are a binge-eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa.
Binge-eatingdisorder is what is sounds: individuals exceed their caloric intake (usually doubling what they need), often in one sitting. Those affected usually gain weight rapidly, which can put a strain on the cardiac system.
Bulimia nervosa is the bingeing and purging cycle: these individuals exceed their caloric intake, usually in specific sittings. They then purge by throwing up. These are the most common symptoms, but overusing laxatives and over-exercising are also associated with this particular eating disorder, as they are also classified as “purging”. Because of the frequent bingeing and purging cycle, people who are bulimic often retain a stable weight.
Anorexia nervosais the eating disorder that often comes to mind when any type of “disorderly eating” is mentioned. Unfortunately, anorexia is often the focus of eating disorders in this day and age. Because of how thin the patients are, it takes light away from other eating disorders, giving the impression that only females can have an eating disorder, that you need to be young to experience an eating disorder, and if you’re not overly thin, you don’t have a problem.
The key thing with an anorexia diagnosis as adhering to the DSM is that you HAVE to be underweight to be diagnosed with anorexia. Individuals suffering from anorexia have come to be underweight by restricting their food intake and over exercising. Because of how prevalent this key symptom was, it resulted in a lot of people being either over-diagnosed or under-diagnosed.
Eating disorders aren’t always intentional. Sometimes they are, but they can also be a slippery slope. “Oh, I’ll cut out junk food and start eating every day,” can lead to “Oh, I’ll stop eating snacks every day,” to “Oh, I’ll skip breakfast, I don’t need it,” to “I really only need to eat half of my dinner…” etc.
One of the current issues with anorexia is that there is--and I kid you not--a pro-ana movement. What does that mean? It means that there are people who encourage “the anorexia lifestyle” in order to lose weight and look ideal. They often encourage others to do so, posting pictures and quotes of “encouragement”.
Don’t believe me? It’s so sad and true.
These thoughts are sometimes expounded on by celebrities who are “against the thigh gap” or who glorify eating disorders (I’m looking at you, Meghan Trainor.)
(Pro-mia is for people who encourage bingeing and purging. It is less common.)
Recently, the DSM-V has helped establish a category that encompasses more than anorexic, bulimic, and binge-eating, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (AFRID).
AFRID criteria:
A. An eating/feed disturbance which causes the sufferer to fail to meet appropriate nutritional/energy needs, which can (but don’t always) lead to significant weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and marked disruption to socialization and/or psychology.
B. This disturbance is not due to lack of food or a cultural practice, such Ramadan.
C. These patterns are not attributed to a medical condition or other mental disorder.
However, with AFRID, the eating disorder is caused by difficulty digesting certain foods, avoiding colors/textures of foods, eating in small portions, and being afraid to eat. Unlike other eating disorders, body image/fear of weight gain IS NOT a factor.
Lesser known eating disorders to consider:
Pica: occurs when an individual has the urge to eat non-nutritive substances such as chalk, paint, metals, paper, clay, glass, etc.
Rumination syndrome: unintentional regurgitation of food after eating due to involuntary muscle contraction. There is no retching, nausea, or heartburn experienced during this disorder as associated with regular vomiting. This disorder is more commonly associated with infants and children.
Atypical anorexia: occurs when an individual experiences weight loss and either restricts eating, over-exercises, or both, but is still in a ‘healthy’ weight range.
If someone is having food complications that are not resulting of another disorder but do not fit the criteria of another eating disorder, it is considered an “Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder”, or OSFED.
As a friend or family member of a loved one with an eating disorder, what can you do?
Firstly, please be aware that anyone can have an eating disorder. Any gender, ethnicity, age, or sexuality can experience the difficulties of these conditions.
The most important thing for someone seeing a loved one experience an eating disorder is to know that it CAN get better. However, there is a process to get there.
Be encouraging, but not demanding. If your loved one either doesn’t want to eat something or doesn’t feel comfortable eating in front of certain people, I would recommend encouraging them to do so in a delicate way: “That food looks good, though” or “Eating with them might be fun” are good ways to approach it. However, if the individual in question still says no, please do not push them! It can make them feel more ashamed for not wanting to do so and can cause anxiety.
Example: “You’re just being dramatic, there’s nothing wrong with eating in front of people!” Or “You used to love this food, stop with your diet fad.”
Please for the love of everything good do not make fun of them! And if other people are making fun of them, reprimand them in a polite but firm way. I would advise against making remarks about vanity/shallowness. Also, avoid scare tactics, as they work initially but often have a backward effect.
Example: “Your hair will never look that way if you keep avoiding eating!” Or “You’ll never have kids if you keep doing this to your body!”
Frequently compliment them on the way they look (but do so genuinely). Though the media might try to tell them one thing and it will be a hard message to overcome, it can make an impact. Though I would not recommend pressing this, letting them know that you care about them and that you’re not judging them for their food complications is important.
Another thing that some individuals do (not all, but some) is trying to compromise on a healthy diet that both they and their loved one with an eating disorder adhere to. This can allow the person with disordered eating to feel supported, believe they’re still “being healthy,” and allow them to gain control. Please do not do this without a doctor, though.
Lastly: realize that you, unfortunately, cannot fix everything, but that is okay. Some of the battle they have to make for themselves. Just being there, being sympathetic, and being supportive can make an enormous difference to someone.
Here are some supportive articles:
For individuals with disordered eating
http://www.buzzfeed.com/eleanorbate/celebrities-on-eating-disorders#.fojPJPzJl
https://www.recoverywarriors.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.viha.boosterbuddy&hl=en (more childish, but can be good for younger individuals)
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
For friends/loved ones
http://www.aroundthedinnertable.org/#gsc.tab=0
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/family-and-friends
