Eating Disorders: More than a Bad Habit

Problem:

Eating disorders are often thought to be poor lifestyle choices leading to grossly low body weight and unhealthy binging; however, that’s not the case at all. Eating disorders are serious, sometimes fatal diseases caused by mental illness that come in many types and forms. It’s important to acknowledge the prevalence and consequences of these disorders because they are about much more than just body image and bad habits. Eating disorders are about serious thoughts and emotional disturbances leading to the problematic eating behaviors that harm the physical body. 

Stats:

• At least 30 million people in the US suffer from an eating disorder.

• Someone dies from an eating disorder every 62 minutes across the US.

• 16% of transgender college students report having an eating disorder. 

Who it affects: 

There are many different types of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, co-occurring disorders, and many more. 

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by thoughts leading individuals to believe that they are overweight even though they may be severely underweight. This causes them to restrict their calories and constantly monitor their weight. 

Bulimia nervosa is seen in individuals who binge eat, feeling like they can’t stop eating, and then purging to make up for the excessive eating and to relieve their discomfort. This is often done in the form of forced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, or excessive exercise. 

Binge eating disorder is typically described as eating extreme amounts of food in a short period of time without feeling a sense of control or being able to stop and then feeling ashamed of the binging behavior. This often leads to large weight gains and, eventually, obesity. 

• 9% of women in the US suffer from anorexia at some point in their lifetime.

• 1.5% of women in the US suffer from bulimia at some point in their lifetime. 

• 2.8% of adults in the US suffer from binge eating disorder at some point in their lifetime.

•   Males represent 25% of individuals with anorexia, and they are at a higher risk of dying, since they are often diagnosed later than women.

• Eating disorders are more common among young women, but they affect people of all ages and genders. 

Goals:

Raise awareness for eating disorders in all groups of people. 

Understand common misconceptions of eating disorders. 

Be aware of the negative consequences of these disorders. 

Distinguish between different types of eating disorders.

Resources:

The Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders is a nonprofit organization that offers many tools to those struggling with eating disorders. Some of the tools include helplines, support groups, grocery buddies, and recovery mentors. 

The National Eating Disorder Association is the nation’s largest nonprofit focusing on the prevention of eating disorders. NEDA provides help for those looking for low cost treatment, struggling with relapse, looking to get screened for an eating disorder, and much more. 

Beyond Hunger is an eating disorder prevention and education program that aims to help people who find themselves obsessing over food and body weight and image. They want to change people’s psychological constraints around food and weight in order to have a peaceful relationship with the body.