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Eating disorders

Understanding and recognising eating disorders.

Article by : SpunOut.ie

What are eating disorders?

Up to 8% of women have some type of eating disorder but many more are unhappy with their bodies. Young men make up about 10% of people with eating disorders.

Eating disorders can be a problem for anyone: boys, girls, young or old. They are very serious and can be life threatening if they aren't treated. However, eating disorders are treatable and even after years of having an eating disorder, it’s possible to recover and return to full health. 

Having an eating disorder means a serious change in normal eating habits, emotional and mental distress and the physical effects that come from this. Eating disorders can be a way of trying to cope with difficult experiences or a feeling of lack of control in your life. Eating disorders aren't about food, they are a sign of underlying worries and emotional stress.

Having an eating disorder might mean:

  • Starving yourself or restricting what you eat to very small amounts.
     
  • Eating huge amounts of food until you feel sick (called binging or binge eating).
     
  • Making yourself vomit (This might be as serious as a few times a day or only happening once every few months).
     
  • Using laxatives (medication that cause diarrhoea) or diuretics (drugs that remove fluid from the body) to keep weight off.
     
  • Exercising more than is healthy
     
  • Any of these are extremely unhealthy, for your body AND your emotions. 

Do I have an eating disorder?

  • Do you feel guilty or ashamed about eating? Are you frightened of putting on weight or do you check your weight all the time?
  • Do you worry all the time about your weight or body shape or about what you’re eating?
  • Do you exercise all the time to work off what you eat?
  • Do you think about food all the time? 
  • Are you very critical of yourself and think that you could do things better such as losing more weight or exercising more?
  • Do you eat when you feel depressed or down about yourself?

If you have an eating disorder: 

  • You might diet often and be very concerned with your body weight, shape or size.
  • You may think that your body is bigger than it really is. Maybe you even wonder if you have an obsession with food.
  • You think that being slim will solve all your problems and are frightened of putting on weight.

What causes eating disorders?

  • There's no single reason for eating disorders. They usually develop over time in reaction to a range of factors such as life changes, bullying, teasing about your body, loss, stress or depression. Eating disorders can also be linked with difficult experiences from the past that have not been resolved.
     
  • Culture and fashion can give us the idea that being thin means being happy.
     
  • Dieting and especially extreme diets add to the risk of developing an eating disorder.
     
  • Controlling food might make you feel like you have more control over your life.
     
  • Low self esteem or a lack of confidence can lead to eating disorders.

Read information on recovery from an eating disorder.

Bodywhys is an organisation that provides information, support and advice to those with eating disorders and their families.

Contact Bodywhys on:
Helpline: 1890 200 444 
Admin Tel: 01 2834963
Email support: alex@bodywhys.ie

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