Psychology (EATING DISORDERS)

Psychology (EATING DISORDERS)

When the term “eating disorder” is used, we often think it is about food or a lifestyle choice. However, these are complicated physical and mental health conditions that require the help of medical and psychological experts. Eating disorders (ED) are characterized by alterations in eating behaviors linked to emotions and thoughts. These harmful eating behaviors negatively affect one’s health or other areas of life and can be fatal. They can also cause significant harm to the digestive system and other vital body organs (Mayo, 2018). Patients suffering from ED, are too preoccupied with food and are severely obsessed with overall body image (Petre, 2019). The most well-known EDs are bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and anorexia nervosa. However, there are others like Rumination disorder, Pica, purging disorder, Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED), and night eating syndrome (Petre, 2019).

Experts link eating disorders to a variety of factors. One is genetics. Studies on twins have shown that if one twin develops an ED, there’s a 50% chance that the other will develop one too, even though they may have grown in different families. These studies have provided some evidence that EDs can be hereditary. Another is personality traits, particularly perfectionism, neuroticism, and impulsivity. Others are sociocultural pressures to be thin and prefer to maintain a specific body image (Petre, 2019).

With Anorexia Nervosa, patients view themselves as being overweight even though their weight is abnormally low, and they are obsessively afraid of weight gain. They strictly monitor their calories, rigorously exercise, diet, or starve themselves to lose weight. There are two subcategories of anorexia, binge eating and purging, and restrictive. Restrictive anorexics lose weight only by dieting, excessive exercise, and fasting. In the binge eating and purging category, patients either eat very little or a lot. In both instances, they purge by vomiting, using diuretics or laxatives, and exercise too much. Some health effects of anorexia include multiple organ failure, bone loss, infertility, heart problems, and brain damage. It has the highest risk of death (Petre, 2019). The cognitive-behavioral theory of the restricting subtype of anorexia nervosa explains that trouble with body appearance and behaviors that inhibit one’s ability to adjust to situations, lead to eating obsessions, withdrawal from social circles and excessive thoughts on body image (Brytek-Matera & Czepczor, 2017).

Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is characterized by consuming a lot of food very fast, followed by activities to compensate for the overeating, like purging, or extreme exercise. The binge-eating involves eating food the person would typically avoid, and usually happens in secret because of the shame, lack of control, and guilt. Bulimics feel very unhappy with their body shape and size. Unlike anorexics who become underweight, bulimics maintain a relatively average weight. Some effects of bulimia are gastrointestinal issues, acute dehydration, and imbalance in electrolytes that can cause heart problems or strokes (Petre, 2019). The cognitive-behavioral theory of BN elaborates that overeating episodes are likely to happen in low mood; therefore, the emotional state may weaken the person’s ability to sustain their strict dietary control (Burton & Abbott, 2017).

Binge eating disorder is similar to anorexia and bulimia. The difference is that these patients do not control calorie intake, purge, or excessively exercise to compensate for their behavior. They uncontrollably and secretly eat a lot of food too quickly, even when they are not hungry or after they are uncomfortably full. People with BED are often overweight or obese and may develop illnesses like diabetes type 2, stroke, or cardiovascular disease (Petre, 2019). The dietary restraint theory proposes that restricting eating to the point of becoming extremely hungry made people more inclined to overeat (Burton & Abbott, 2017).

ARFID causes undereating because of disinterest in food, dislike for taste, look, or smell of certain foods or concern about what could happen when eating, like choking (Mayo, 2018). Pica causes unusual craving and consuming items that are not food, like dirt, and is common among pregnant women, children, or the mentally disabled. Pica can cause poisoning, gut damage, infections, and nutritional insufficiencies, which can be fatal. Rumination disorder causes voluntary regurgitation of swallowed food, rechewing, and either re-swallowing or spitting it out. It usually occurs 30 minutes after eating and can cause severe malnutrition and weight loss, which can be fatal, especially for children. Purging disorder involves purging behaviors, but no bingeing happens. Night eating syndrome causes excessive eating often after waking up. OSFED includes other conditions with symptoms similar to, but not exactly like other EDs (Petre, 2019).

Eating disorders are becoming more popular and should be taken with as much seriousness as other epidemics. Statistics from Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), show that at minimum, 30 million people (20 million women and 10 million men) in America have an ED (ANAD, 2020, Neda, n.d). EDs are common among teens and young adults, especially women and girls, though older persons and men can also be affected (Mayo, 2018). Eating disorders are challenging to diagnose since patients rarely actively seek help. Many hide the condition or are ashamed to admit they are sick. Psychological issues like depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, inability to manage emotions, personality disorders, drug, and substance abuse, destroy self-identity. Therefore, in an attempt to control certain aspects of their life or environment, someone may get an eating disorder. However, with proper treatment and a healthy support system, EDs and their complications can be treated (Mayo, 2018).

References

Cognitive-Behavioral Theories of

Eating Disorders

DONALD A. WILLIAMSON

MARNEY A. WHITE

EMILY YORK-CROWE

TIFFANY M. STEWART

Cognitive-Behavioral Theories of

Eating Disorders

DONALD A. WILLIAMSON

MARNEY A. WHITE

EMILY YORK-CROWE

TIFFANY M. STEWART

Cognitive-Behavioral Theories of

Eating Disorders

DONALD A. WILLIAMSON

MARNEY A. WHITE

EMILY YORK-CROWE

TIFFANY M. STEWART

Alina Petre (2019). 6 Common Types of Eating Disorders (and Their Symptoms). Retrieved on March 18, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/common-eating-disorders

ANAD (2020). Eating Disorder Statistics. Retrieved on March 17, 2020, from https://anad.org/education-and-awareness/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-statistics/

Brytek-Matera, A., & Czepczor, K. (2017). Models of eating disorders: a theoretical investigation of abnormal eating patterns and body image disturbance. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1, 16-26.

Burton, A., & Abbott, M. (2017). Conceptualizing Binge Eating: A Review of the Theoretical and Empirical Literature. Retrieved on March 18, 2020, from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behaviour-change/article/conceptualising-binge-eating-a-review-of-the-theoretical-and-empirical-literature/F16AF2E86D31461F9AF7A76527E6EC45/core-reader

Mayo Clinic (2018). Eating Disorders. Retrieved on March 18, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20353603

Neda (n.d). What Are Eating Disorders? Retrieved on March 18, 2020, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/what-are-eating-disorders