Eating disorders are a major concern today; here are a few myths, symptoms of eating disorders and how it affects our lives.
In today’s day and age of Instagram models and crash diets, the pressure to be thin is stronger than ever. In many situations, the stress to meet these unfair beauty standards goes hand in hand with the development of eating disorders. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), eating disorders are mental illnesses that are “associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions.” Today, the NIMH states that eating disorders are the most lethal mental illnesses worldwide. These disorders tend to most often affect young women, however, anyone may develop one. There is no single cause for the development of an eating disorder, though common stimuli seem to be the pressure to succumb to beauty standards or past traumas.
Unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding eating disorders and mental health generally, especially in Indian society. Here we’ve compiled a list of the most common eating disorders, their symptoms and health consequences to help you recognize and treat them as needed.
Anorexia Nervosa
What is it?
Anorexia Nervosa, more commonly known as just anorexia, is a psychological disorder that causes those suffering from it to severely restrict their calorie intake- often to the extent of not eating at all for extended periods of time. Most people suffering from this disorder continue to starve themselves even if they have reached a state of being severely underweight, leading to critical health risks.
Symptoms:
- Being severely underweight- often reaching a body mass index of less than 5% body fat
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Absent to very irregular menstruation
- Body dysmorphia- a distorted view of oneself which leads them to believe their body is larger and has more body fat than it really does
- Feeling tired, drowsy and lethargic all the time
- Slow and/or irregular heart rate
- Other mental health issues (such as suffering from depression and anxiety)
Health consequences:
- Cardiovascular/heart problems
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, when the body does not get adequate caloric intake, it breaks down its own muscles, one being the heart. This leads to various cardiovascular issues including heart attacks and a dangerously slow, irregular heartbeat.
Malnutrition leads to pancreatitis, which is when the pancreas becomes inflamed. Essentially, the pancreas’ digestive enzymes are activated prematurely, resulting in them breaking down the organ itself. Severe pancreatitis can also cause damage to its surrounding organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, etc.
The American Journal of Kidney Diseases states that anorexia leads to increased risk of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney failure. Anorexia also leads to extremely low levels of electrolytes, creating further issues in the function of the kidneys.
This is a medical condition in which the stomach cannot process, digest or expel food in its normal fashion, leading to issues such as heartburn, vomiting, severe stomach pains and more. In some cases, gastroparesis needs surgery to be effectively treated.
Bulimia Nervosa
What is it?
Bulimia Nervosa, or Bulimia, is a psychological disorder wherein one consumes excessive amounts of food only to purposely expel it soon thereafter, either by self-induced vomiting or through the use of laxatives. This is also known as bingeing and purging. While bingeing, most people suffering from bulimia feel as though they have no control over how much food they’re eating.
Symptoms:
- Grave fear of gaining weight
- Bloating and indigestion
- Sore throat
- Other mental health issues (such as suffering from depression and anxiety)
- Absent or irregular menstruation
- Exhaustion or feeling lethargic all the time
- Bloodshot eyes
Health consequences:
Due to excessive contact with stomach acids, bulimia can cause dental erosion. The stomach acids wear away at the tooth's enamel, causing hypersensitivity, cavities, dental fractures, and more.
Purging causes the body to expel a lot of important electrolytes, causing electrolyte levels in the body to become imbalanced. This leads to issues in the heart- in severe cases, even heart failure or death. It also causes severely decreased blood pressure which can lead to seizures.
Firstly, binge eating could lead to stomach rupturing. In addition, the disease can cause stomach ulcers and the expulsion of stomach acids through the esophagus can cause esophageal ruptures.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder entails one eating excessively large amounts of food in a single sitting, often without complete control over their own actions. People struggling with this disorder are usually using food as a coping mechanism and often are ridden with other disorders as well.
Symptoms:
- Obesity/excessive weight gain
- Hoarding food
- Eating to the point of being overly full
- Other mental health issues (such as suffering from depression and anxiety)
Health Consequences:
Excessive amounts of food consumed due to binge eating can lead to health issues such as obesity and heart disease. High levels of cholesterol and blocked arteries are all issues that can come with this mental illness.
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that often accompanies obesity/being severely overweight. It results in your breathing stopping and starting sporadically in your sleep, loud snoring.
If you or a friend are suffering from one of these disorders, please immediately seek medical and psychiatric help.
