Eating Disorders

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Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are one of the most prominent disorders in society. Eating disorders can happen to anyone, and an often go buy undetected and misunderstood. Many people do not realise how serious eating disorders really are. There are multiple effects that come from eating disorders that can affect the rest of someone’s life, even after they overcome their disorder. Understanding all of the different aspects of eating disorders is the best way to overcome the disorder that you have.

Different Types of Eating Disorders

There are different types of eating disorders; these differences can seriously effect how someone has to deal with their eating disorder. While some of the different eating disorders will seem similar to each other, there are many differences. Anorexia is often confused with bulimia for those who do not know the exact definitions. Anorexia is an eating disorder where the person does not eat enough; they will skip out on eating, and have serious body image issues. Bulimia has similar body image issues, but is different in the sense that those who have bulimia eat, but purge after most, if not all, of their meals.

The other two major types of eating disorders that are not as well known and are somewhat similar are overeating and binging. Overeating and binge eating al revolve around relationships with food. Binging is when someone will suddenly eat a large amount of food (more than usual), and then purge after the binge. Those who have overeating issues have a relationship with food; the food is an emotional release. Overeating is a form of eating disorder opposite of anorexia.

The Effects of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders have a wide array of effects. These effects are both temporary and permanent, and can happen both physically and emotionally. For many, this is the exact reason to find treatment for the actual eating disorder, as many will find it too difficult to deal with both the physical and mental effects on their own.

The physical effects of eating disorders can be small, and they can be serious. Those who suffer from eating disorders will have obvious weight issues. These weight issues can be overweight or underweight, but can be equally as damaging. Eating disorders can also cause malnutrition, which can have a huge impact on the rest of the body. Cardiovascular issues are just one of the major issues that can come about from eating disorders.

The psychological effects of eating disorders can be nearly as bad, if not worse, than the physical effects of eating disorders. Those with eating disorders will find that their self esteem, and body image, are completely ruined. Their eating disorder has surrounded their beliefs around how they look and how they feel, and this can be incredibly tough to overcome. Those who have eating disorders will also have issues with their relationship with food; many will struggle to have a good relationship with food that is healthy for their body. This can also be tough to overcome without the help of a treatment facility and program.

Compulsive Eating

When people think of eating disorders, they tend to think of things such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. While they may think of something as binge eating, most people will not recognise compulsive eating as an eating disorder. Compulsive eating can be an incredibly difficult eating disorder to overcome, however. Understanding compulsive eating is incredibly important to make sure that you can know if you or someone has it, and what can be done to get over the disorder.

Definition of Compulsive Eating

Compulsive eating can almost be referred to as an addiction. Someone who is a compulsive eater will continuously and constantly eat, even when they are not hungry. Compulsive eaters seem to have no control over their eating habits, but are able to hide it from many. They will eat food until they hurt, and will often eat more calories per day than is deemed “healthy”.

Signs of Compulsive Eating

There are multiple signs, and reasons, for compulsive eating. Someone who eats when they are not hungry, or is constantly eating, may be a compulsive eater. Compulsive eaters may slip into the ranks of overeaters if they eat when they are upset, sad, or unhappy with their body image, as well as if they are bored. Sings of compulsive eating can also include those who attempt to hide their eating from others; if they are embarrassed about how much they eat, they may be a compulsive eater.

Binge Eating

Binge eating is another eating disorder similar to compulsive eating as people will eat much more than is usual, but will do so on binges instead of consistently and constantly like compulsive eating.

The Psychological Effects of Binge Eating

Binge eating can have multiple psychological effects. Those who have the disorder of binge eating may have body image issues. They tend to purge once they realize how much that they have eaten, simply because they think of it in terms of weight gain and personal body image. Those who have gone through binge eating have a love/hate relationship with food, and these issues may also carry over. Once someone has overcome binge eating, they may find that they have lasting issues with body image as well as a fluctuating relationship with food.

Holistic Approach to Binge Eating

Lifeworks believes in a holistic approach to all eating disorders, including binge eating. A holistic approach means that every aspect of the eating disorder is understood before treatment begins. Those who wish to get over a binge eating disorder need to understand why they are overeating. This is often rooted in the mind and psyche of the person with the eating disorder. By understanding the emotional reasoning for the binge eating, you can then attack the eating disorder from all angles. This breaks down the eating disorder so that the chance for success after the treatment is great. To get beyond the eating disorder, you must understand it first, which is what a holistic approach does.