About Eating Disorders

What Is an Eating disorder?

 

‘An eating disorder is a mental illness, more than just a diet, and can take over a person’s life and the lives of those around them. While unhealthy eating behaviour is involved, they aren’t solely about food, instead they are about control or coping with something else.

Eating disorders do not always present themselves as a significant loss of weight, those of a normal or higher BMI can have abnormal attitude or behaviour towards food. Someone with an eating disorder may be very focused on their weight or shape, or make unhealthy choices which could lead to damaging results physically, psychologically and socially.’ – Hannah Burton, Therapy Partners

 

What causes Eating Disorders?

 

Eating disorders don’t discriminate, and occur in females and males, across all age groups, across all socioeconomic groups and cultural backgrounds. There is no single cause of an eating disorder but there are a number of risk factors which may trigger the development of disordered eating patterns. (BEAT 2017)

 

Risk factors include:

• Body Image pressures - through the power of the media and social network sites (link to body image page) this currently link to nothing

• Trauma and stress

• Bullying (link to bulling page) this currently links to nothing

• Family/ relationship difficulties

• Puberty

• Abuse

• Periods of transition or change

• Perfectionism

 

Types of Eating Disorders

 

There are different types of eating disorders that are categorized by their symptoms and health affects. They include:

 

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia symptoms include:

• Over evaluation of shape and weight and control.

• Judging self-worth largely and even exclusively in terms of shape and weight and the abilityto control

• Active maintenance of low body weight – less than 85% of that expected or a body mass index of 17.5 or below

• Inadequate food intake

• Fear of weight gain

• Obsession over weight and food

• Inability to understand the severity of the situation

 

Bulemia Nervosa

Bulimia Symptoms include:

• Over evaluation of shape and weight

• Recurrent binge eating and a sense of loss of control at the time.

• Extreme weight control behaviour - sustained dietary restriction, recurrent self-induced vomiting or laxative misuse.

• Feeling out of control during binge eating episodes

• Self-esteem and self-worth related to body image

 

Other eating disorders include Binge eating disorder, emotional overeating and eating disorder not otherwise specified. Find out more information here (PDF)

 

Warning Signs

 

Did You Know

The number of reported cases of anorexia in young women between 15 and 19 has risen each decade since 1930.  40% of new cases of anorexia are in girls between the ages of 15 and 19.  Approximately 10-15% of anorexics or bulimics are male.  35-57% of adolescent girls engage in crash dieting, fasting, self-induced vomiting, diet pills, or laxatives.   The heart rate of a person with anorexia might drop to lower than 60 beats a minute.  Anorexia has the highest fatality rate of any mental illness.  4 out of 10 individuals have either personally experienced an eating disorder or know someone who has.  Of those suffering from an eating disorder, only 1 in 10 will seek treatment.

 

Body Image

 

‘To loose confidence in one’s body, is to loose confidence in oneself’ – Simone de Beauvoir (writer, activist)

In our current society, we are bombarded with images of what we are supposed to look like and are presented with an unrealistic, warped ideal of what beautiful is.

Social media, television, celebrity culture and the media reinforce the notion that we are not good enough, telling us how we need to look to achieve ‘perfection’ which in reality is often unachievable.

Due to these societal expectations, our body image and the way we see ourselves can become distorted, and as our sense of self-worth decreases, a constant pressure to be perfect increases, which can easily develop into an eating disorder.

Below is a short video, which perfectly demonstrates in one minute how almost all images we see are photo shopped to imaginary perfection and presented as real.

 

Effects & Consequences of an Eating Disorder

Being consistently underweight can cause long term health problems, and have an effect on all of your bodily functions, including physically, psychologically and socially.

 

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

 

Thinking

• Difficulty in decision making

• Pre-occupation with food

• Disinterest in hobbies and activities

• Less spontaneous

Feelings

• Easily irritated or upset

• Isolated from friends and family

• Unwilling to maintain friendships

Behaviour

• Obsessional, ritualised behaviour and routines

• Setting rigid rules around what you must not eat or must not do.

• A need to be clean and tidy or hoarding behaviour.

 

PHYSICAL EFFECTS

 

Heart and Circulation

• Loss of heart muscle

• Lower blood pressure and pulse

• Heart beat irregularities

Sex Hormones and Fertility

• All non-essential processes are stopped to preserve energy

• Menstrual periods may stop which could result in infertility

Bones, Muscles and Joints

• Reduction in bone strength

• Increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures

• The Muscles weaken and joints become swollen

Skin and Hair

• A downy hair covering can start to grow on the face, forearms, back and abdomen.

• Hair loss from scalp.

• Dry skin

Temperature regulation

• Reduction in body temperature, feeling cold

 

It requires real effort and application to regain a healthy mind-set and body weight. However, if you regain weight to a low, but healthy level, the majority of these symptoms will go away.

Please click here for a full and comprehensive list of effects and consequences (PDF)

 

Testimonials from Young People and their Families

 

We love hearing from the young people that have used our service and getting their feedback and constructive criticism, helps us develop. It is wonderful to read, in their own words, how they have been able to reach personal goals, find the inner strength that was always there and take steps on their journey towards recovery.

 

CHLOE – May 2017

 

In February 2017 I started counselling for my eating disorder, I've suffered with bulimia for nearly 2 years and knew that I needed help. I attended my first session very nervous and not knowing what to expect. Marty, my therapist explained in detail what the course would entail and what to expect. I left with a hundred questions spinning round in my head; 'does she expect me to be better the next time I see her?'; 'Does she expect me to just stop being sick?' Over the next few days I had a rollercoaster of emotions, I was confused, angry and most of all embarrassed. This was my secret and I felt like I had just gone and told the world. 

I attended my second session very apprehensively but Marty put me at ease and as the sessions went on it was easier to open up. The first 4 weeks are very intense with 2 sessions a week. I started my food diaries and began looking at why I had an eating disorder. I looked forward to seeing Marty, knowing I could open up to her even though it was hard.  

I learnt that I wasn't going to miraculously stop binging and being sick but with certain techniques Marty taught me, I would learn to know myself better and what my triggers were. 

The weeks passed and one day I remember going to a session and saying I didn't want to carry on and I didn't want to get better, that I was fine and didn't need help. I think this was my turning point and I realised I wasn't okay and I did need help. My biggest fear was putting on weight but over the weeks I really cracked down and concentrated on eating 3 meals a day and everything in moderation, I began to realise that making myself sick was a waste of time and was not making me loose weight and that I was just damaging the inside of me. All of the hours I spent in the bathroom being sick could have been hours spent with friends or family or doing something I enjoyed. 

I am nearly at the end of my 20-week course and I feel like a different person. I can't thank Marty enough for everything she has done. I've realised I've been missing out on life and I can finally concentrate on other things other than my eating disorder - I'm the one in control now, not my eating disorder.

 

For more Testimonials from young people and their families, click here (PDF)

 

Additional Resources

 

Top 10 Nutritionally Rich Foods to Love (PDF)

Therapy Partners Seminar (PDF)

Golden Guidelines (PDF)

Contact us for more information