Eating Disorders

Introduction:

Eating disorders can be defined as a range of psychological conditions because of which an individual develops unhealthy eating habits. Eating disorders are not only about food but complex mental health conditions.

Signs and Symptoms:

There are different kinds of eating disorders which can have different symptoms, however each condition focusses on issues related to food , eating and sometimes weight. This preoccupation with food makes it difficult for an individual to live a balanced life.

Some of the emotional and behavioural signs include:

  • Denying feeling hungry
  • Preoccupation with food, weight, calories, etc. 
  • Dramatic weight loss
  • Concern about eating in public
Some of the physical signs may include:
  • Difficulty Concentrating
  • Sleep Irregularity
  • Dry skin, thinning hair
  • Poor immune system function

Causes:

Some of the probable causes of eating disorders are:

  • Genetics and family history
  • Peer pressure or cultural pressure
  • Low self esteem
  • Depression and anxiety could also lead to eating disorders

Types of eating disorders:

  • Anorexia Nervosa - Is characterized by extreme food restriction. It involves extreme fear of becoming fat. A person suffering from anorexia nervosa is actually thin, however may have a mental image of being fat
  • Bulimia Nervosa - Is marked by a cycle of binge eating and purging. A person binge eats due to some overwhelming emotion followed by extreme guilt which leads to purging.
  • Binge Eating - In this case an individual eats a lot of food in a short amount of time. He/She feels as if they have no control over their desire to eat food and related quantity.
  • ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) - This is also known as selective eating disorder where people limit the amount or type of food eaten. They do not have a distorted body image or extreme fear of gaining weight. This is commonly seen in children. When a child's eating behaviour leads to a general lack of interest in eating and starts to affect their growth and development, then it is diagnosed as ARFID.

Happetive, your mental wellbeing companion, understands the importance of mental health in daily life. We offer Self-Help Tools and self-care resources, with Therapy Support available whenever you need it.

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