By Cassandra
Hastie, Harvard University
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Photo courtesy of Charlotte Astrid, Copyright 2010. Available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlottedownie/4497292636 |
“Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide” - Marcus Tullius Cicero
While not often discussed, eating
disorders are serious mental disorders that affect at least 30 million
Americans, according to the Eating Disorder Coalition (EDC). To be
specific, around 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from an eating
disorder, as stated on the National Eating Disorder Association’s website (NEDA). It is
important to raise awareness of these eating disorders, because eating disorders
have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness (EDC). The EDC
and NEDA are two of the leading organizations providing help and guidance on
this health issue.
Due to lack of information and limited
awareness, only 1 in 10 people with an eating disorder receive treatment (EDC).
Scientists are not fully certain of the exact cause of eating disorders, but
they believe a combination of psychological, interpersonal, social, and biological
factors contribute to their onset (NEDA).
Because it is so difficult to predict the likelihood of an individual
developing an eating disorder, it becomes even more important to be aware of
restrictive eating and negative self-esteem regarding body image. My aim in
this blog is to differentiate between mindful eating and extreme dieting and to
describe the three main forms of eating disorders and their consequences.
Mindful eating is an important part of
a healthy lifestyle and clear head. Learning to be aware of when you are hungry
and when your body needs nutrients is valuable and necessary, just as it is
important to know when your body is full and does not need more food. There is
quite a distinct difference between being aware of how much you are eating and
going on a severely restrictive diet. Although it is not guaranteed that
someone who has a restrictive relationship with eating will develop an eating
disorder, it is definitely a possibility that this type of relationship could
lead to one of the three most prominent eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia
Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa is defined by
extremely low-calorie intake, weight loss, low self-esteem related to body
image, and difficulty of comprehending the danger of the disorder (NEDA).
Additionally, there are two types of Anorexia, namely the Restricting Type and
the Binge-Eating/Purging Type. An individual suffering from the Restricting
Type of Anorexia maintains a low weight by limiting their caloric intake to
sometimes just a few hundred calories a day, according to the National Association
of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). The
Binge-Eating/Purging Type is also characterized by restrictive eating, but
additionally involves self-induced vomiting or exercising after the consumption
of food (ANAD).
Another prominent eating disorder,
Bulimia Nervosa, is characterized by episodes of eating a lot and then
participating in activities to prevent weight gain, which include, but are not
limited to, self-induced vomiting. Those who suffer from Bulimia often have low
self-esteem when it comes to their body image; also, they can feel out of
control (NEDA).
A Binge Eating Disorder is similar to
Bulimia Nervosa in the sense that those suffering tend to consume large amounts
of food. The difference between the two disorders is that binge eating is not
associated with behaviors to prevent weight gain. Binge Eating frequently
involves feelings of being out of control, strong shame, and guilt (NEDA).
It is incredibly important to be aware
of the symptoms and early signs of an eating disorder. If you feel like you may
be affected by any symptoms related to an eating disorder, there are many free
resources at your disposal. Two of these resources include the National Eating Disorder
Association Hotline ((800) 931-2237) and the NEDA Click-to-Chat
resource. Both of these systems of support can be found at the following
website: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/information-referral-helpline.
Everyone who feels like he or she may
be struggling with any body image or eating concerns deserves support. No
concern is too small. Living a healthy life and maintaining a healthy diet are
immensely important, but mental health is equally as essential. I hope that
this blog has helped to shed some light on the dangers of extreme dieting and
the importance of achieving moderation.
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