Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are quiet and insidious and can wreak havoc on families, relationships and the physical wellbeing of its victims.

An eating disorder is a primarily psychological condition. What may begin as a diet or health and wellbeing programme, in the wrong hands may end as an eating disorder.

There are many forms of eating disorder and sufferers can be affected in many different ways.

What is an eating disorder?

Essentially, the victim of an eating disorder will use food as a weapon against themselves – either depriving or starving themselves (anorexia nervosa), or binging and purging (vomiting – bulimia) or any manner of obsessive behavior where food is concerned (refusing carbohydrates, or compulsive calorie counting/exercise). They are unhappy with an aspect of their life, are burying a past trauma or feeling generally out of control.

A normally healthy and active adult requires somewhere in the vicinity of 2000 calories (8700 kJ) per day to live. Of that, about 1200-1400 calories will be used just to operate the brain and body. Excessive consumption of food, with not enough exercise will usually lead to weight gain, and the opposite is also true; not enough food or too much exercise will generally result in weight loss.

Both men and women suffer from eating disorders and worryingly, children are appearing more and more often in statistics.

Most eating disorders are focused on losing weight, but there is a form of body dysmorphia that means that a sufferer feels too small or thin and strives to put on weight or eats compulsively.

How do you know?

Diagnosing and treating an eating disorder requires a skilled professional. As with addicts, sufferers of an eating disorder will generally deny they have a problem, refuse help and manipulate to avoid confronting their problem. It is not a matter of ‘snapping out of it' or ‘just eating'. It can take a long time to win the battle of an eating disorder and tragically many people still die each year from eating disorders and their associated complications.

Someone with an eating disorder is not vain. They may be a teenager, an athlete, overweight, underweight, elderly, beautiful or disabled. They have a psychological conditional need patience and care.

As families we need to model healthy attitudes of weight, health and wellbeing. Children learn by example, so if parents are constantly complaining about their own bodies, children may learn to be dissatisfied with themselves. Likewise, thoughtless comments in children's earshot may create negative thoughts about their bodies.

Model healthy attitudes

Eating together as a family has numerous benefits, not least of which is ensuring that everyone is eating a balanced diet and a reasonable amount of food. It encourages good communication within a family and creates an opportunity to discuss problems and worries.

If you are concerned about a friend or family member, seek advice. Remember to get all the facts and don't jump to conclusions. It may be best to just 'be there' and offer an environment in which to share feelings in the first instance. Consult your GP for the best way to handle a potential eating disorder.