Eating Disorders

Although people sometimes consider it negligible, this is not the case. Today, eating disorders affect a considerable number of Australians, reaching as much as 4%. It is a mental and physical health condition that culminates in unhealthy eating pattern among patients.

However, it does not end here. Most individuals who experience an eating disorder also experience other mental health conditions such as anxiety, substance abuse, and depression. Worse, this concurrent reaction takes different forms that are particular to an individual. In most cases, it can turn out to be fatal where a patient does not pay adequate attention to its treatment.

Also, it is essential to note that this eating disorder is not discriminatory when it comes to gender, age, and status. And, in all cases, it can pose as a life-threatening condition that requires considerable attention. Again, it is complex with varying expressions.

However, you can categorise this expression into four significant categories.

Anorexia Nervosa

This involves a severe restriction on the consumption of food by a patient. This also comes with an extreme fear of weight gain and body distortion. Prevalent symptoms for this category include: • Fast weight loss • Low self-esteem • Secrecy when eating • An obsession with exercise and food

Binge Eating Disorder

This takes the form of excessive consumption of food by a patient. Commonly referred to as binge eating, the individual believes they are unable to determine how much food they consume during the period. Usually, this can manifest at different times. However, common symptoms of binge eating disorder include: • Hoarding • Erratic behaviour when it comes to obtaining food • Avoiding questions related to eating habits, weight, and food consumption

Bulimia Nervosa

This condition is quite similar to the binge eating disorder above. However, in this case, there’s an extension of reaction. In most cases, cases of binging result in compensatory behaviours like vomiting. Other expressions of this disorder include: • Regular changes in body weight • Frequent and prolonged absence from sight after a meal • Sensitivity to statements and comments concerning eating and food

Other Specified Food and Eating Disorder

This is quite a common eating disorder affecting as much as 30% of individuals that get diagnosed for eating disorders. Typically, this occurs where a person displays signs of all other eating disorders, for instance, in a situation whereby a person shows the sign for Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Bulimia Nervosa.

However, such an individual does not satisfy the required symptomology to get diagnosed from any of the single condition. Still, it is essential to note that this condition remains as life-threatening as other conditions.

While there a wide range of eating disorders that might affect an individual. It is essential to remember that they all pose a significant risk to human life. In fact, eating disorders represent a complicated mental and physical health condition.

As such, individuals experiencing this situation must seek help as soon as possible. They can do this by contacting a recovery centre that offers a multidisciplinary approach to recovery. This approach must integrate experienced nutritionist, physiologist, and eating disorder therapist.