How to Build a Healthy Relationship with Food

While food itself is not the problem, building a healthy relationship with it is essential to your recovery. Many patients find it very difficult to control their behavior when it comes to food - they often first severely limit their diet, and then suddenly break down and begin to uncontrollably absorb everything that comes to hand. Your task is to find the optimal balance.

Forget about strict nutrition rules. Severe food restrictions and constant monitoring of everything you eat during the day can trigger the development of an eating disorder. That's why it's so important to replace them with healthy eating habits. For example, if you constantly limit yourself to sweets, try to soften this “rule” at least a little. You can occasionally allow yourself to eat ice cream or a cookie.

Stop dieting. The more you restrict yourself from food, the more likely you are to think about it constantly and even become obsessed with it. So instead of focusing on what you "shouldn't" eat, focus on nutritious foods that will give you energy and vitality. Think of food as fuel for your body. Your body knows very well when it needs to replenish its energy reserves. Listen to him. Eat only when you are truly hungry, and stop eating as soon as you feel full.

Stick to a regular eating schedule. Perhaps you are used to skipping certain meals or not eating anything for a long time. But remember that when you don't eat anything for a long time, all your thoughts become only about food. To avoid this, be sure to eat something every 3-4 hours. Plan your main meals and snacks in advance and don't skip them!

Learn to listen to your body. If you have an eating disorder, you've likely learned to ignore the hunger and satiety signals your body sends. You may not even recognize them anymore. Your job is to relearn how to respond to these natural signals so that you can plan your meals according to your physiological needs.

Learn to accept and love yourself for who you are.

When you base your self-worth solely on your appearance, you forget about your other qualities, accomplishments, and abilities that make you attractive. Think about your friends and family members. Do they love you for the way you look? Chances are, your appearance ranks low on the list of things they love about you, and you probably rate them on roughly the same scale of values. So why is your appearance so important to yourself?

Paying too much attention to how you look can lead to low self-esteem and loss of self-confidence. But you can learn to perceive yourself in a positive, “harmonious” way:

Make a list of your positive qualities. Think about all the things you like about yourself. Smart? Good? Creative? Faithful? Cheerful? What do people around you consider your good qualities? List your talents, skills, and accomplishments. Also think about the negative qualities YOU DON'T HAVE.

Focus on what you like about your body. Instead of looking for flaws when you look in the mirror, evaluate what you like about your appearance. If you find yourself distracted by “imperfections,” remind yourself that no one is perfect. Even supermodels have their photos retouched.

Stop thinking about yourself in a negative way. As soon as you notice that you are again starting to think negatively, harshly criticize yourself, judge, or feel guilty, stop. Ask yourself, do you have any real basis for such judgments? How can you refute them? Remember, your belief in something is not a guarantee of truth.

Dress for yourself, not for others. You should be comfortable in the clothes you wear. Choose clothes that highlight your personality and make you feel comfortable and confident.

Get rid of fashion magazines. Even if you know that all the photos in these magazines are completely photoshopped, they can still develop insecurity and feelings of inferiority in you. It's best to stay away from them until you're sure they're not damaging your self-esteem.

Pamper your body. Instead of treating your body like an enemy, look at it as something valuable. Treat yourself to a massage, manicure, facial, candlelit bath, or scented lotion or perfume that you like.

Lead an active lifestyle. Movement is essential for your mental and physical well-being. It's best if it's outdoor training.

Tips for Preventing Eating Disorders

Treatment for eating disorders is a long process. It is very important to maintain the achieved results to avoid relapse of the disease.

How to prevent the return of an eating disorder?

Gather a “support group” around you. Surround yourself with people who support you and want to see you healthy and happy. Avoid people who drain your energy, encourage disordered eating, or make you feel bad. Avoid hanging out with friends who always comment on your weight changes. All these comments are given not from good intentions, but from envy.

Fill your life with something positive. Make time for things that bring you joy and satisfaction. Try something you've always wanted to do, learn something new, pick up a hobby. The healthier your life becomes, the less you will think about food and losing weight.

You need to know the enemy by sight. Decide under what conditions the likelihood of relapse is highest - during the holidays, during the exam session or during the “swimsuit season”? Identify the most dangerous factors and develop an “action plan”. For example, during these times, you may want to see your eating disorder specialist more often or ask for additional emotional support from your family and friends.

Avoid internet sites that promote unhealthy body image behavior. Avoid information resources that advertise and encourage anorexia and bulimia. Behind these sites are people who are trying to justify their unhealthy attitudes towards their bodies and diet. The “support” they offer is dangerous and will only hinder your recovery.

Follow your individual treatment plan closely. Don't skip appointments with an eating disorder specialist or other parts of your treatment, even if you notice improvements. Strictly follow all recommendations developed by your “treating team”.

Eating disorders are psychological illnesses characterized by abnormal eating habits that may include under- or over-consumption of food to the detriment of physical and mental health. and are the most common forms of eating disorders. Other types of eating disorders include binge eating disorder and other eating and eating disorders. Bulimia nervosa is a disorder characterized by compulsive overeating and purging. This may include forced vomiting, excessive exercise, and the use of diuretics, enemas, and laxatives. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by excessive food restriction to the point of self-exhaustion and large weight loss, which often causes women who have begun to menstruate to stop their menstrual cycle, a phenomenon known as amenorrhea, although some women who have other criteria for anorexia nervosa according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 5th edition, are still noticing some menstrual activity. This version of the Guide identifies two subtypes of anorexia nervosa—the restrictive type and the purging type. Patients with the restrictive type of anorexia nervosa lose weight by restricting food intake and sometimes excessive exercise, while patients with the purging type overeat and/or compensate for weight gain with a form of cleansing. The difference between purging anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa is the patient's body weight. In anorexia, patients feel well at a normal body weight, whereas in bulimia, patients may have a body weight that ranges from normal to overweight and obese. While these disorders were originally thought to be specific to women (estimated at 5-10 million people in the UK), eating disorders also affect men. It is estimated that 10–15% of patients with eating disorders are men (Gorgan, 1999) (an estimated 1 million men in the UK suffer from these disorders). Although the incidence of eating disorders is increasing worldwide in men and women, there is evidence to suggest that women in the Western world have the greatest risk of developing such disorders, and the degree of Europeanization increases the risk. About half of Americans personally know someone with an eating disorder. The ability to understand the central processes of appetite, as well as knowledge of the study of brain function, has increased significantly since the discovery of leptin. Eating behavior involves interrelated incentive, homeostatic, and self-regulatory control processes that are key components of eating disorders. The exact cause of eating disorders is not fully understood, but there is supporting evidence that it may be associated with other diseases and conditions. The cultural idealization of thinness and youth has contributed to the development of eating disorders in various sectors of society. One study found that girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are more likely to develop eating disorders than girls without the disorder. Another study suggests that women with post-traumatic stress disorder, especially sexually related, are most likely to develop anorexia nervosa. One study found that female adoptees were more likely to develop bulimia nervosa. Some researchers suggest that peer pressure and idealized body shapes presented in the media are also a significant factor. Some studies indicate that for certain people there are genetic reasons for their possible susceptibility to developing eating disorders. Recent studies have found evidence of a correlation between patients with bulimia nervosa and substance abuse disorders. In addition, patients with eating disorders typically have anxiety disorders and personality disorders, which may have a cognitive component of inappropriate hunger, which can cause various feelings of psychological stress that contribute to hunger. While appropriate treatment can be very effective for many patients suffering from specific types of eating disorders, the consequences of eating disorders can be severe, including death (due to the direct medical impact of disordered eating or related conditions such as suicidal ideation).

Classification

Disorders currently approved in medical guidelines

These eating disorders are listed as mental disorders in standard medical manuals such as the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision and/or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Revision.

Disorders not currently included in standard medical guidelines

Causes

There are many causes of eating disorders, including biological, psychological and/or environmental abnormalities. Many patients with eating disorders also suffer from body dysmorphic disorder, which alters the patient's self-image. Studies have found that a large proportion of patients diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder also had some type of eating disorder, with 15% of patients having either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. This connection between body dysmorphic disorder and anorexia comes from the fact that both body dysmorphic disorder and anorexia are characterized by a preoccupation with physical appearance and body image disturbance. There are also many other possibilities such as environment, social issues and interpersonal problems that can contribute and stimulate the development of these diseases. The media is also often blamed for the increase in eating disorders due to the media promoting an ideal image of a physically thin person, such as models and celebrities, who motivate or even coerce the audience to try to achieve the same result themselves. The media has been accused of distorting reality in the sense that people portrayed in the media are either naturally thin and thus not representative of the norm, or are abnormally thin by striving to look like an ideal image through excessive exercise. While recent findings have described the causes of eating disorders as primarily psychological, environmental, and sociocultural, new research has provided evidence that the genetic/hereditary aspect of the causes of eating disorders is predominant.

Biological reasons

Genetic causes: Numerous studies suggest that there is a likely genetic predisposition to eating disorders as a result of Mendelian inheritance. It has also been demonstrated that eating disorders can run in families. Recent studies involving twins have found minor examples of genetic variation when considering different criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa as endophenotypes of the disease as a whole. In another recent study involving couples and families, researchers found a genetic link on chromosome 1 that could be found in multiple family members of a patient with anorexia nervosa, indicating an inheritance pattern found among family members or other individuals with a tentative diagnosis of an eating disorder. The study found that a patient who is an immediate family member of a person who has suffered or is currently suffering from an eating disorder is 7 to 12 times more likely to suffer from an eating disorder. Twin studies have also shown that at least some of the susceptibility to developing eating disorders may be inherited, and there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that there is a genetic locus responsible for susceptibility to developing anorexia nervosa.

Epigenetics: Epigenetic mechanisms are the means by which environmental effects alter gene expression through methods such as DNA methylation; they are independent of and do not change the underlying DNA sequence. They are inherited, but can also occur throughout life and are potentially reversible. Dysregulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission through epigenetic mechanisms has contributed to various eating disorders. One study found that "epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to known changes in atrial natriuretic peptide homeostasis in women with eating disorders."

Biochemical causes: Eating behavior is a complex process regulated by the neuroendocrine system, the main component of which is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis has been associated with eating disorders such as irregular production, levels or transmission of certain neurotransmitters, hormones or neuropeptides and amino acids such as homocysteine, which have been found to have elevated levels in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, as well as depression .

• Leptin and Ghrelin: Leptin is a hormone produced primarily by fat cells in the body that has an inhibitory effect on appetite by inducing a feeling of fullness. Ghrelin is an appetite-inducing hormone produced in the stomach and upper small intestine. The levels of both hormones in the blood are an important indicator in weight control. Often associated with obesity, both hormones and their respective actions have been implicated in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Leptin may also be used to differentiate between the innate leanness of healthy individuals with a low body mass index and those with anorexia nervosa.

  Gut Bacteria and the Immune System: Research has shown that most patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia have elevated levels of autoimmune antibodies, which affect hormones and neuropeptides that regulate appetite control and response to stress. There may be a direct correlation between the level of autoimmune antibodies and associated subjective symptoms. The latest study found that the autoimmune antibodies that reacted with alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone were actually produced against ClpB, a protein produced by a certain gut bacterium, such as Escherichia coli. The ClpB protein has been identified as a conformational mimetic antigen of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. In patients with eating disorders, plasma levels of anti-ClpB immunoglobulin-G and immunoglobulin-M correlated with the patient's psychological traits.

  Infections: PANDAS (abbreviation for “pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric diseases associated with streptococcal infection”, English). Children with PANDAS “have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders such as Tourette syndrome and whose symptoms worsen following infections such as strep throat and scarlet fever” (data from the National Institute of Mental Health). There is a possibility that PANDAS in some cases may be a precipitating factor in the development of anorexia nervosa.

  Focal lesions: Studies have noted that focal lesions in the right frontal lobe or temporal lobe of the brain can cause pathological symptoms of eating disorders.

  Tumors: Tumors in various parts of the brain have been implicated in the development of abnormal eating patterns.

  Brain calcification: Study presents a case in which primary calcification of the right thalamus may have contributed to the development of anorexia nervosa.

  Somatosensory projection: is a model of the body located in the somatosensory cortex, first described by the famous neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield. The illustration was originally titled "Penfield's Homunculus", homunculus meaning little man, little man. “In normal development, this projection should represent the passage of the organism through the pubertal growth spurt. However, in anorexia nervosa, it is suggested that there is a lack of plasticity in this area, which can lead to poor sensory processing and disturbances in body image” (Bryan Lask, also proposed by V. S. Ramachandran).

  Obstetric complications: Studies have been conducted that have shown that maternal smoking, obstetric and perinatal complications such as maternal anemia, very preterm birth (less than 32 weeks), small for gestational age birth, neonatal heart problems, preeclampsia, placental infarction and the development of a cephalohematoma at birth increases the child's risk of developing either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Some such developmental risks, as in the case of placental infarction, maternal anemia and heart problems, may cause intrauterine hypoxia, umbilical cord entrapment or umbilical cord prolapse and may cause ischemia leading to damage to the brain, prefrontal cortex in the fetus, the newborn with This is highly susceptible to damage, as it has been noted that the result of oxygen deprivation may contribute to executive dysfunction, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and may influence personality traits associated with eating disorders and related disorders such as impulsivity, mental rigidity and obsessions. The problem of perinatal brain injury regarding the impact on society and on affected individuals and their families is extraordinary (Yafeng Dong, Ph.D.).

  Symptom of exhaustion: Evidence suggests that symptoms of eating disorders are actual symptoms of exhaustion itself rather than a mental disorder. In a study of 36 healthy young men who underwent therapeutic fasting, the men soon began to experience symptoms commonly seen in patients with eating disorders. In this study, healthy men ate about half the food they were used to eating and soon developed symptoms and patterns (preoccupation with food and eating, ritualistic eating, worsening cognitive function, other physiological changes such as decreased body temperature) that are characteristic symptoms of anorexia nervosa. The men in the study also developed pathological hoarding and compulsive collecting even though they despised it, revealing a possible link between eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Psychological reasons

Eating disorders are classified as Axis I disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Revision (DSM-IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association. There are various other psychological problems that may contribute to the development of eating disorders, some meeting criteria for a separate diagnosis of Axis I or personality disorders that fall under Axis II and are thus considered comorbid with the diagnosed eating disorder. Axis II disorders are divided into 3 groups: A, B and C. The cause-and-effect relationship between personality disorders and eating disorders is not fully understood. Some patients have a pre-existing disorder, which may increase susceptibility to developing eating disorders. Some people develop them immediately. The severity and type of eating disorder symptoms have been noted to influence comorbidities. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition should not be used by lay people for self-diagnosis, even when used by professionals, there has been considerable debate regarding the diagnostic criteria used for various diagnoses, including eating disorders. There have been inconsistencies in various editions of the Manual, including the most recent 5th edition of May 2013.

Problems of attentional deviation in the cognitive process

Attentional bias may influence eating disorders. Many studies have been conducted to test this theory (Shafran, Lee, Cooper, Palmer, & Fairburn (2007), Veenstra and de Jong (2012) and Smeets, Jansen, & Roefs (2005)).

Evidence of the influence of attentional bias on the development of eating disorders

Shafran, Lee, Cooper, Palmer, and Fairburn (2007) conducted a study examining the influence of attentional bias on the development of eating disorders in women with anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders compared to controls and found that patients with eating disorders were more likely to identified “bad” eating scenarios than “good” ones.

Attentional deviation in anorexia nervosa

A study examining a more specific area of ​​eating disorders was carried out by Veenstra and de Jong (2012). He found that patients in both the control and eating disorder groups showed attentional bias towards high-fat foods and a negative eating picture. Patients with eating disorders showed a greater attentional bias toward foods that are perceived as “bad.” This study hypothesized that negative attentional bias may facilitate restricted eating in patients with eating disorders.

Deviation of attention due to dissatisfaction with one's own body

Smeets, Jansen, and Roefs (2005) examined body dissatisfaction and its relationship with attentional bias and found that induced bias for unattractive body parts caused participants to feel worse about themselves and their body satisfaction decreased, and vice versa when a positive bias was introduced. .

Character traits

There are various childhood personality traits associated with the development of eating disorders. During puberty, these traits may be enhanced by various physiological and cultural factors, such as hormonal changes associated with puberty, stress associated with the approach of maturity, and sociocultural influences and subjective expectations, especially in areas that relate to body image. Many character traits have a genetic component and are highly inherited. Maladaptation of certain specific traits can result from hypoxic or traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, neurotoxicity such as lead exposure, bacterial infections such as Lyme disease or viral infections such as Toxoplasma, and hormonal influences. While research using various imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging is ongoing, it has been noted that these traits originate in different areas of the brain, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Eating behavior has been noted to be influenced by disturbances in the prefrontal cortex and executive functioning system.

Environmental influence

Child abuse

Child abuse, which includes physical, psychological and sexual abuse and neglect, has been shown in numerous studies to be a precipitating factor in a wide range of mental disorders, including eating disorders. Abused children may develop eating disorders in an attempt to gain some sense of control or comfort, or they may be exposed to unhealthy or insufficient diets. Child abuse and neglect cause profound changes in the physiology and neurochemistry of the developing brain. Children in government care, orphanages, or foster care are particularly susceptible to developing eating disorders. In a study in New Zealand, 25% of participants in foster care developed eating disorders (Tarren-Sweeney M. 2006). An unstable home environment negatively affects a child's emotional well-being; even in the absence of overt violence or neglectful behavior, stress from an unstable home situation can contribute to the development of eating disorders.

Social isolation

Social isolation has harmful effects on a person's physical and emotional well-being. Socially isolated individuals have a higher death rate, in general, compared to individuals who have social relationships. This effect on mortality is significantly increased in persons with pre-existing medical and psychiatric disorders, and has been particularly noted in coronary artery disease. “The magnitude of the risk associated with social isolation is comparable to cigarette smoking and other major biomedical and psychological risk factors” (Brummett et al.). Social isolation can be stressful in itself, causing depression and anxiety. In an attempt to eliminate these unpleasant sensations, a person may begin to experience emotional overeating, in which food serves as a source of pleasure. Thus, the associated loneliness with social isolation and unavoidable stressors are also implicated as triggering factors in the development of binge eating disorder. Waller, Kennerley, and Ohanian (2007) argue that purifying and restrictive types are emotion suppression strategies, but they are only used at different times. For example, food restriction is used to suppress emotional activation, whereas binge-vomiting is used after emotional activation.

Parental influence

Parental influence has been shown to be an intrinsic component of the development of eating behavior in children. This influence is expressed and shaped by a wide variety of factors, such as family genetic predisposition, dietary choices according to cultural or ethnic preferences, parental body measurements and eating behavior, degree of involvement and expectations of children's eating behavior, and personal relationships between parents and children. This complements the general psychosocial climate of the family and the presence or absence of a stable child-rearing environment. It has been noted that parental maladjustment plays an important role in the development of eating disorders in children. In more subtle aspects of parental influence, it has been noted that eating behavior is established in early childhood, and that children should be allowed to decide when their appetite is satisfied as early as two years of age. A direct link has been shown between obesity and parental pressure to eat more. Forced dieting tactics have been shown to be ineffective in controlling a child's eating behavior. Affect and attention have been shown to influence a child's degree of pickiness and acceptance of a wider variety of foods. Heald Bruch, a pioneer in the field of eating disorder research, says anorexia nervosa often occurs in girls who excel academically, are obedient and always try to please their parents. Their parents tend to be overly controlling and fail to encourage the expression of emotions, suppressing their daughters' acceptance of their own feelings and desires. Teenage girls in their overbearing families do not have the ability to be independent from their families and to realize their needs, which often leads to open disobedience. Controlling what they eat can help people feel more confident because it gives them a sense of control.

Peer pressure

Various studies, such as one conducted by McKnight researchers, have suggested that peer pressure has a significant contribution to body image issues and attitudes toward food among adolescent and young adult participants up to approximately 23 years of age. Eleanor Mackie and co-authors Annette M. La Greca of the University of Miami conducted a study of 236 adolescent girls from public high schools in southeast Florida. "Teenage girls' concerns about their weight, how they appear to others, and their feelings that their peers would like to see them thinner are significantly associated with their weight control behavior," says psychologist Eleanor Mackie, of the National Health Institute. Pediatric Center in Washington, DC, the main author of the study. - “This is really important.” According to one study, 40% of girls aged 9-10 years are already trying to lose weight. It is noted that such a diet is influenced by the behavior of peers, so many of them who are on a diet also claim that their friends are also on a diet. The number of friends who diet and the number of friends who pressure them to diet also plays a significant role in their own choices. Elite athletes have a significantly higher rate of eating disorders. Female athletes in sports such as gymnastics, ballet, diving, etc. are at the highest risk among all athletes. Women are more likely than men to develop eating disorders between the ages of 13 and 30. 0–15% of those with bulimia and anorexia are men[citation needed].

Cultural pressure

This is the cultural emphasis on thinness that predominantly dominates Western society. There is an unrealistic stereotype about beauty and the ideal figure presented by the media, fashion and entertainment industries. “Cultural pressure on men and women to be ‘perfect’ is an important predisposing factor in the development of eating disorders.” Further, when women of all races base their self-worth on what is considered a culturally ideal body, the incidence of eating disorders increases. Such disorders are becoming more prevalent in non-Western countries where being thin is not seen as an ideal, showing that social and cultural pressures are not the only causes of eating disorders. For example, research on anorexia in non-Western regions of the world indicates that these disorders are not only “culturally determined”, as previously thought. However, studies examining bulimia rates suggest that it may be culturally related. In non-Western countries, bulimia is less common than anorexia, but it can be said that these non-Western countries studied are likely or definitely influenced or pressured by Western culture and ideology. Socioeconomic status has also been examined as a risk factor for the development of eating disorders, suggesting that having more resources allows a person to make more active dietary choices and reduce body weight. Some studies have also shown a relationship between increases in body dissatisfaction and increases in socioeconomic status. However, after achieving high socioeconomic status, the relationship weakens and in some cases disappears. The media plays a big role in how people see themselves. Countless advertisements in magazines and the image of very thin celebrities on television, such as Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie and Mary Kate Olsen, receive a lot of attention. Society has taught people that the approval of others must be obtained at any cost. Unfortunately, this has led to the belief that in order to meet the demands of society, one must act in a certain way. Television beauty pageants such as the Miss America pageant promote the idea that beauty is what contestants judge it to be based on their own opinions. In addition to considering socioeconomic status, the world of sports appears as a cultural risk factor. Athletics and eating disorders tend to go hand in hand, especially in sports where weight is a competing factor. Gymnastics, horse racing, wrestling, bodybuilding and dancing are just a few categories of sports in which performance depends on weight. Eating disorders among competitive individuals, especially women, often result in weight-related physical and biological changes that often mask the prepubertal period. Often, as women's bodies change, they lose their competitive edge, forcing them to resort to extreme means to maintain a more youthful figure. Men often experience overeating followed by exercise, focusing on building muscle rather than losing fat mass, but this goal of gaining muscle weight is as much an eating disorder as an obsession with being thin. The following statistics, taken from Susan Nolen-Hoeksema's book, Normal (Pathological) Psychology, show the calculated percentage of athletes who have eating disorders by sport.

Aesthetic sports (dancing, figure skating, rhythmic gymnastics) – 35%

Weight sports (judo, wrestling) – 29%

Strength sports (cycling, swimming, running) – 20%

Technical sports (golf, high jump) – 14%

Ball games (volleyball, football) – 12%

While most of these athletes maintain eating disorders to maintain a competitive edge, others use exercise as a way to maintain weight and body measurements. This is as serious as regulating your competition food intake. Although there is mixed evidence showing that certain athletes face the problem of eating disorders, research shows that, despite the level of competition, all athletes are at increased risk for developing eating disorders compared to non-athletes, especially those who participate in sports in which being thin matters. Social pressure is also noted within the homosexual community. Homosexual men are at increased risk of developing eating disorder symptoms than heterosexual men. In gay culture, a muscular body provides advantages in social and sexual attractiveness, as well as power. This pressure and the idea that another gay man may desire a thinner or more muscular partner can possibly lead to an eating disorder. The more symptoms of an eating disorder are experienced, the greater the patient's problem with how others will perceive him and the more frequent and debilitating physical activity. High levels of body dissatisfaction are also associated with extrinsic motivation for exercise and older age; however, the image of a thin and muscular body is more prevalent among younger than older homosexuals. It is important to be aware of some of the limitations and challenges of many studies that attempt to examine the role of culture, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. For those new to the field, most cross-cultural studies use definitions from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Revised, which has been criticized for reflecting Western cultural biases. Thus, assessments and surveys may not be sufficient to identify some of the cultural differences associated with various disorders. Also, when looking at patients from areas of potential Western cultural influence, some studies have attempted to measure the extent to which a person has adapted to popular culture or remained faithful to the traditional cultural values ​​of their region. Finally, most cross-cultural studies examining eating disorders and self-image psychological distress have been conducted in Western countries rather than in the countries or regions of study. While there are many factors that influence a person's body image, the media plays a big role. Along with the media, the influence of parents, peers and self-belief also play a significant role in a person's vision of himself. The way media presents images can have a lasting effect on a person's perception of their own body. Eating disorders are a worldwide problem, and while women are more susceptible to eating disorders, they affect both sexes (Schwitzer 2012). The media has an influence on the development of eating disorders by reporting positively or negatively, so they have a responsibility to warn audiences when presenting images that represent the ideal that many are trying to achieve through eating behavior change.

Symptoms of complications

Some of the physical symptoms of eating disorders are weakness, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, decreased beard growth in men, decreased erection upon awakening, decreased libido, weight loss, and decreased growth. Unexplained hoarseness may be a symptom of an underlying eating disorder due to acid reflux, or the release of acidic stomach contents into the larynx and esophagus. Patients who vomit, such as those with purging-type anorexia nervosa or purging-type bulimia nervosa, are at risk for developing acid reflux. Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder in women. Often associated with obesity, it can also occur in patients of normal weight. PCOS has been linked to binge eating disorder and bulimia.

Subculture of anorexia propaganda

Men

Evidence to date suggests that gender discrimination among medical practitioners means that men are less likely to be diagnosed with bulimia or anorexia, despite identical behaviour. Men are more likely to be diagnosed with depression due to changes in appetite than with a primary diagnosis of an eating disorder. Using the Canadian research examples below, it is possible to discover more detailed problems that men face with eating disorders. Until recently, eating disorders were characterized as almost exclusively female disorders (Maine and Bunnell 2008). Most early academic knowledge during the early 1990s. have tended to dismiss the prevalence in men as being largely, if not entirely, irrelevant compared to such disorders in women (Weltzin et al. 2005). Only recently have sociologists and feminists expanded the scope of eating disorders to identify the unique challenges men with eating disorders face. Eating disorders are the third most common chronic illness in adolescent boys (NEDIC, 2006). Using currently available data, it is estimated that 3% of men will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime (Health Canada, 2002). Not only is the rate of eating disorders increasing among women, but men are also more concerned about their appearance than ever before. Health Canada (2002) found that nearly one in two girls and one in five boys by age 10 are either dieting or want to lose weight. Since 1987, hospitalizations for eating disorders have increased overall by 34% among boys under 15 years of age and by 29% among boys aged 15 to 24 years (Health Canada, 2002). In Canada, the rate of age segregation of hospital patients with eating disorders was highest among men in British Columbia (15.9 per 100,000) and New Brunswick (15.1 per 100,000) and lowest in Saskatchewan (8.6 ) and Alberta (8.6 per 100,000) (Health Canada, 2002). Part of the task of determining the prevalence of eating disorders in men is under-researched and has few statistics that are current or relevant. Recent work by Schoen and Schoen (2008) suggests that the same prevailing social factors were responsible for the increase in eating disorders among women in the late 1980s. , may also be veiled by public opinion about the similar susceptibility of men. As a result, male eating disorders and prevalence have been underreported or misdiagnosed. Particularly recent attention has been drawn to the gendered nature of diagnosis and different presentation methods in men; Diagnostic criteria that focus on weight loss, fear of getting fat, and physical symptoms such as amenorrhea cannot be applied to men with eating disorders, many of whom engage in excessive exercise and value muscularity and self-determination rather than absolute weight loss; men resent certain terms, such as “fear of getting fat,” which they see as instilling insecurity and stripping away masculinity (Derenne and Beresin, 2006). As a result of these preliminary attempts to express eating disorders in men using the language and concepts of disparate disorders in women, there is a significant lack of data on the prevalence, incidence, and burden of the disease in men, and most of the available data are difficult to estimate, poorly reported, or simply flawed. The message that there is no ideal body shape, figure or weight that every person should strive to achieve is still disproportionately targeted at women, and those events that include men still prominently celebrate gender presentation (e.g. the ribbon symbol ), further creating a barrier to access for men with eating disorders (Maine and Bunnell, 2008). Male body image is not as homogeneous in the media (i.e., the range of “acceptable” male physical attributes is wider) but instead focuses on perceived or perceived masculinity (Gaughen, 2004, 7 and Maine and Bunnell, 2008). More acutely than ever, there is a lack of consensus in the literature regarding unique risk factors for gay or bisexual men; The US Center for Population Research in LGBT Health notes the prevalence in the LGBT population to be approximately twice the national average for women and approximately 3.5 times higher for men. However, a similar study (Feldman and Meyer, 2007) failed to explain the processing of these results, and a subsequent study (Hatzenbuehler et al., 2009) suggests that members of the LGBT community are somewhat protected from the prevalence of psychiatric illnesses, including including eating disorders. As mentioned above, a distinct lack of research continues to pose a barrier to reaching a broad conclusion on this topic. A 2014 report in Salon estimated 42 percent of men with eating disorders identified as gay or bisexual. Current treatment for men with eating disorders occurs in the same environment as for women. Men living in isolated, rural or small communities who experience physical abuse, which sometimes leads to the development of eating disorders, face barriers to treatment, as well as additional stereotypes that they suffer from a “female” disease ( data from Health Canada, 2002). Health Canada (2011 report) also states that integrated treatment approaches for domestic violence and eating disorders are likely to become increasingly rare as the resources required to ensure availability of services, appropriate health care, sufficient staff, shelters and space transitional and psychological counseling on underlying violence is no longer available. Many cases in Canada are referred to as US treatment data due to a lack of appropriate services offered (Vitiello and Lederhendler 2000). For example, in one case, a patient with anorexia nervosa initially admitted to a children's hospital in Toronto was subsequently advised to transfer to a hospital in Arizona (Jones, 2007). In 2006, the province of Ontario alone referred 45 patients (36 of them male) to the United States for eating disorder treatment at a total cost of US$3,719,440 (Jones, 2007), a decision motivated by the lack of specialized facilities locally. Speaking from a feminist perspective, Maine and Bunnell (2008) proposed a unique approach to managing eating disorders in men. They call for counseling that focuses on how the patient responds to pressures and expectations, rather than addressing the individual pathology of disordered eating behavior. Current treatments show some success in this regard (Health Canada, 2011), but patient-based review and feedback are lacking. Physical symptom monitoring, behavioral and cognitive therapy, body image therapy, nutritional counseling, education, and medication treatment when needed are currently available in some form, although all of these programs are provided regardless of the patient's gender (DOH, 2002 and Maine and Bunnell, 2008). Up to 20% of patients with eating disorders eventually die from their disease, and another 15% resort to suicide. When accessed to treatment, 75–80% of adolescent girls recover, but less than 50% of boys recover (Macleans, 2005). Moreover, there are some limitations in data collection since most studies are based on case reports, which makes it difficult to report the results to the general population. Patients with eating disorders require a wide range of treatments for physical complications and psychological problems at a cost of approximately $1,600 per day (Timothy and Cameron 2005, 100). Treatment of patients diagnosed after hospitalization based on their condition is more expensive (approximately three times the cost) and also less effective, with a corresponding reduction of more than 20% in women and 40% in men (Macleans, 2005). There are many societal, family and individual factors that can influence the development of an eating disorder. People who struggle with their identity and self-image may be at risk, as can those who have experienced a traumatic event (Mental Illness in Canada Report, 2002). In addition, many patients with eating disorders report a sense of powerlessness in their socioeconomic environment and see diet, exercise, and cleansing as a means of gaining greater control over their lives. The traditional approach (Trebay, 2008 and Derenne and Beresin, 2006) to understand the underlying causes of eating disorders focuses on the role of the media and sociocultural pressures; the idealization of being thin (for women) and muscular (for men) often goes beyond mere body image. The media implicitly implies that not only are people with “ideal” bodies likely to be more confident, successful, healthy, and happy, but that being thin is associated with positive character traits such as reliability, solidity, and integrity (Harvey and Robinson, 2003). Traditional views of eating disorders reflect a generalized media image in which thin and attractive people are not only the most successful and desirable members of the community, but that they are the only members of the community who can be attractive and desirable. From this perspective, society is focused on appearance; Body image has become central to young people's sense of self-esteem and self-worth, which overshadows qualities and achievements in other aspects of life (Maine and Bunnell, 2008). Adolescents may associate success or acceptance by their peers with achieving the "ideal" physical standards portrayed in the media. As a result, during a period in which children and adolescents become significantly more exposed to prevailing cultural norms, boys and girls are at risk of developing distorted images of themselves and their bodies (Andersen and Homan, 1997). When desired body image goals are not achieved, they may experience feelings of failure, which contribute to further declines in self-esteem, confidence, and increased body dissatisfaction. Some also suffer from psychological and mental health conditions such as shame, failure, deprivation and unsustainable diet (Maine and Bunnell, 2008). Eating disorders can make a person feel tired and depressed, have decreased mental function and concentration, and can lead to malnutrition with risks to bone health, physical growth, and brain development. There are also increased risks of osteoporosis and reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, lower heart rate, lower blood pressure and lower metabolic rate (NEDIC, 2006). In addition, patients with eating disorders have the third highest risk of self-abuse and suicide, with rates 13.6 and 9.8 times higher than the Canadian average, respectively (Löwe et al., 2001).

Psychopathology

The psychopathology of eating disorders centers around body image disturbances, such as problems with weight and body shape; In this case, the following is observed: self-esteem is too dependent on the weight and shape of the body; fear of gaining weight even if you are underweight; denial of the severity of symptoms and distorted vision of the body.

Diagnostics

The initial diagnosis should be made by a qualified physician. “History is the most powerful tool for diagnosing eating disorders” (American Family Medicine). There are many medical conditions that mask eating disorders and co-occurring mental disorders. All organic disorders should be examined before a diagnosis of an eating disorder or other mental disorder is made. Eating disorders have become more visible over the past 30 years, and it is unclear whether changes in presentation reflect a true increase in incidence. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most clearly defined subgroups of a broader range of eating disorders. Many patients present with a subthreshold expression of two main diagnoses: other disorders with varying presentation and symptoms.

Medical factors

The diagnostic examination usually includes a complete medical and psychosocial history and then an appropriate and standardized approach to diagnosis. Neuroimaging using functional magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, PET, and gamma imaging has been used to identify cases in which focal lesions, tumors, or other organic conditions were either the sole causative or contributing factor in the development of eating disorders. “Right frontal intracerebral lesions, with their close interaction with the limbic system, may be the cause of eating disorders, therefore, we recommend performing cranial MRI in all patients with suspected eating disorders” (Trummer M. et al. 2002); “Intracranial pathology should also be considered even with a definite diagnosis of early-onset anorexia nervosa. Second, neuroimaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of early-onset anorexia nervosa from a clinical and research perspective” (O'Brien et al. 2001).

Psychological factors

After examining the organic causes and the physician's initial diagnosis of an eating disorder, a trained psychiatrist helps evaluate and prescribe treatment for the underlying psychological components of the eating disorder and any associated psychological conditions. The doctor conducts a clinical interview and may perform various psychometric tests. Some are general in nature, while others are designed specifically for use in the assessment of eating disorders. Some of the common tests that may be used are the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Rating Scale. A longitudinal study notes that the chance of young adult women developing bulimia increases due to ongoing psychological pressures, but as a person ages and matures, their emotional problems change or resolve and the symptoms then subside.

Differential diagnosis

There are many conditions that can be misdiagnosed as a primary mental disorder, complicating or delaying treatment. They may have a synergistic effect on diseases that mask eating disorders or on properly diagnosed eating disorders.

Psychological disorders that may resemble or accompany an eating disorder:

Prevention

Prevention aims to promote healthy development before the onset of eating disorders. It also aims to identify eating disorders early, before treatment is still appropriate. Children aged 5-7 years are aware of cultural messages regarding body image and diet. Prevention consists of highlighting these problems. The following topics should be discussed with children (and also young people).

The Internet and modern technologies present new opportunities for prevention. Online programs have the potential to increase the use of prevention programs. The development and practice of applying prevention programs using online resources makes it possible to convey information to many people at minimal cost. This approach can also make prevention programs rational.

Forecast

Treatment

Treatment varies depending on the type and severity of the eating disorder, and several treatment options are typically used. However, there is a lack of reliable supporting evidence for treatment and control measures, the current understanding of which is based primarily on clinical experience. Therefore, before treatment, the family physician will play an important role in the early treatment of patients with eating disorders who are unwilling to see a psychiatrist, and much of the success will depend on the attempt to establish a good relationship with the patient and family during primary treatment. Some of the treatment methods are:

There are several studies examining the cost-effectiveness of various treatment regimens. Treatment can be expensive due to limitations in insurance coverage for treatment, so people hospitalized with anorexia nervosa may be discharged underweight, leading to relapse and readmission.

results

Definitive estimates are complicated by the heterogeneous criteria used across studies, but for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, it is generally accepted that the percentage of complete recovery is 50–85% with the majority of patients experiencing at least partial remission.

Epidemiology

Eating disorders cause approximately 7,000 deaths per year as of 2010, making it the mental illness with the highest mortality rate.

Feminist literature and theory

Economic aspects

Total US spending on inpatient treatment for eating disorders has increased from US$165 million in 1999–2000. to US$277 million in 2008-2009, an increase of 68%. Average costs per eating disorder patient increased 29% over ten years, from $7,300 to $9,400.

Over the course of the decade, hospitalizations for patients with eating disorders increased across all age groups. The greatest increase was in the group of patients 45-65 years old (88% increase), followed by hospitalizations in patients under 12 years of age (72% increase).

The majority of patients with eating disorders are women. In 2008-2009 88% of cases involved women, 12% – men. The report also noted a 53% increase in hospital admissions for men with a primary diagnosis of an eating disorder, from 10 to 12% over ten years.

:Tags

List of used literature:

Hudson, JI; Hiripi, E; Pope, H. G. Jr.; Kessler, R. C. (2007). "The Prevalence and Correlates of Eating Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication." Biological Psychiatry 61(3):348–58. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.03.040. PMC 1892232. PMID 16815322.

Yale, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, (2014). Abnormal psychology (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill Education. pp. 340–341. ISBN 978-0-07-803538-8.

Cummins, L.H. & Lehman, J. 2007. 40% of eating disorder cases are diagnosed in females ages 15–19 years old (Hoe van Hoeken, 2003). Eating Disorders and Body Image Concerns in Asian American Women: Assessment and Treatment from a Multi-Cultural and Feminist Perspective. Eating Disorders. 15. pp217-230.

Chen, L; Murad, M.H.; Paras, M. L.; Colbenson, K. M.; Sattler, AL; Goranson, E.N.; Elamin, M.B.; Seime, R. J.; Shinozaki, G; Prokop, L.J.; Zirakzadeh, A (July 2010). "Sexual Abuse and Lifetime Diagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis." Mayo Clinic Proceedings 85(7):618–629. doi:10.4065/mcp.2009.0583. PMID 20458101.

Eating disorders are a very common and serious problem in modern society, which claims the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world. It has psychological aspects, most often arising in adolescence, during the period of personality formation. At first, refusing to eat or eating in stressful situations is rare, and subsequently turns into a way of life that even a very strong-willed person cannot change on his own. The problem is that people with eating disorders do not agree to admit the problem until the very end and resist any help offered.

Manifestations of eating disorder

It is not so easy to identify the presence of a tendency towards an eating disorder, because the patient does his best to hide deviations and sometimes resembles the behavior of a drug addict or alcoholic. He begins to eat furtively or provoke vomiting after eating together with his family, thereby averting suspicion from himself. In psychiatry, there are many cases where teenagers managed to mask their eating problems for a long time, and parents began to sound the alarm only at the moment of pronounced deviations.

Routine observation of a person will help to promptly suspect the prerequisites for the development of the disease. Eating disorders in children of preschool and early school age can only be noticed by parents, so it is worth treating their behavior with special attention. The most serious causes leading to the disease develop in childhood. Their timely detection will help to avoid global problems in adolescence and adulthood. The presence of an RPP will be indicated by:

• concern about your appearance, body structure, figure;
• inadequate perception of food, a great need for it or imaginary indifference;
• rare or frequent eating;
• quirks during lunch, such as the desire to split a sandwich into many small pieces;
• meticulous calculation of the calorie content of dishes and division into portions by weight;
• uncontrolled eating even in the absence of hunger;
• nausea and vomiting after eating;
• permanent refusal of certain types of products;
• great interest in celebrities who have ideal, according to stereotypes, body proportions.

The more deviations in behavior are noticed, the greater the likelihood that the object of observation has the makings of developing an eating disorder or is already progressing the disease. e.

Bulimia

Bulimia is a neurogenic disorder that leads to the development of uncontrolled eating in large quantities and does not always coincide with a person’s taste preferences. Bouts of gluttony are replaced by violent attacks based on self-criticism. A person eats until he feels a clear overabundance due to overstretching of the stomach and esophagus. Typically, bouts of gluttony end with vomiting and extremely poor general condition. But after some time, everything repeats again, and a person is unable to interrupt this pathological cyclicity, because the areas of the brain responsible for eating behavior cannot be controlled.

The patient tries to cope with the disorder on his own, takes laxatives, induces vomiting, and resorts to gastric lavage measures. As a result, a person loses contact with himself and falls into deep depression. The eating disorder persists and even gets worse. Attempts to cope with the disease on your own lead to the development of anorexia, and after a breakdown - again to uncontrolled weight gain. Long-term such a condition leads to a complete imbalance in the body and often ends in death.

Anorexia

The main features of anorexia are a sharp limitation in the quantity and changes in the quality of food. Most often it affects women. Eating even small portions of plant foods, they experience a strong fear that there will be a sharp increase in volumes and the process of weight loss that has begun will be disrupted. In their minds, the body mass index should be several points lower than normal, but there are no limits to perfection, and the slimmer the waist and thinner the legs, the more attractive the figure seems to others. Having a body mass index of less than 16 and pronounced signs of exhaustion, patients do not deviate from these beliefs and continue to follow a strict diet with a gradual refusal to eat at all.

In order to enhance the effect, you can often notice manipulations that speed up the process of getting rid of “extra” kilograms. Refusal of fats, carbohydrates and the required amount of liquid. Taking appetite suppressants, diuretics, intense and too frequent training - even to the point of loss of consciousness. The most dangerous symptom of anorexia is deliberately induced vomiting. At this stage, patients suppress their appetite and provoke the development of gastrointestinal diseases.

Exhaustion leads to the development of physiological abnormalities, which are manifested by the cessation of menstruation, lack of libido, withering of all vital functions and muscle atrophy. With severe anorexia, the patient loses the ability to move and self-care. Even a few spoken words cause severe shortness of breath and fatigue. In order to preserve vital functions such as breathing, heartbeat and others, patients are forced to be at rest and not waste energy on talking and moving. This is all due to the irreversible consequences that have arisen, as a result of which the body stops taking nutrients from the outside, even in the form of drip administration in a hospital setting.

Compulsive overeating

Compulsive overeating disorder is a subtype of bulimia. The fundamental difference is that a person does not accept the condition as pathological and does not seek to unload. He regularly consumes larger and too high-calorie portions, explaining this by the need for increased nutrition. This type of disorder is the most common and has a sluggish course.

The disease has a cyclical nature of symptoms. At first, a person experiences very strong hunger and has an equally strong appetite, then he eats as much as he can. When oversaturated, he tries to limit himself, but still cannot cope and resorts to snacking too often. Even at a moment of slight hunger, he tends to eat a portion several times larger than the standard size. When eating delicious food, he cannot stop and deny himself the pleasure, which leads to regular gluttony. In part, this is how patients overcome stressful situations.

Treatment

Given the severity of the disease and the multifaceted nature of its manifestations, a multidisciplinary approach is required. The key principle will be the work of a psychotherapist, who at the initial stage must identify the psychogenic cause and be sure to eliminate it. Until a person has recovered from the provoking factor, there can be no talk of complete recovery. The specialist begins work on recreating the correct image of a person, pushing him towards self-knowledge and restoring the perception of himself as a part of society.

The course of treatment lasts at least one year, but on average, full recovery takes 3-5 years. Half of the patients respond to psychotherapy and get rid of the disease forever, a quarter manage to partially cope, and the rest are doomed to an unfavorable outcome.

The recovery process can be considered launched only after a person realizes the presence of an illness and shows a desire for healing. Eating disorders do not respond to forced therapy. Psychotherapy sessions are held on an outpatient basis, and the patient attends them independently, if necessary, with a family representative. Compulsory treatment is possible only in cases of long-term anorexia, when being left without medical supervision can result in death at any time.

Psychotherapy sessions take place in individual, group and family modes. Their duration and timeliness depend on the degree of the disease and its manifestation. Family psychotherapy is an integral part of treatment, because the patient needs support and achieving complete harmony in relationships with others and loved ones. At this stage, a nutritional culture is instilled, and training courses are conducted on the balance and rationality of consumed foods. Gradually, a person gets rid of fixated attention on his appearance, abandoning his previous diet.

In order to channel energy in the right direction, it is very important to find activities of interest. Many plunge into the mysterious world of yoga and meditation. Self-knowledge and self-development play a big role in the process of recovery and turning to a new rhythm of life. Often, a psychotherapist suggests living according to a schedule, where all actions are performed within a clearly allotted time. In this mode, there is definitely a place for walks in the fresh air, visiting sports sections, such as a swimming pool, and time for hobbies. Over time, a person gets used to living according to a new daily routine and gives up planning.

Great importance is given to the restorative and supportive stages of the treatment process. The patient should never return to his usual way of life, because each new breakdown poses an even greater danger to health, and the psyche becomes resistant to influence on it with the help of psychoanalysis.

Pay attention to warning signs. You must be honest with yourself if you notice these symptoms. Remember, eating disorders can have life-threatening complications. Don't underestimate the seriousness of an eating disorder. Also, don't think that you can do it on your own without anyone's help. Don't overestimate your strength. Key warning signs to look out for include:

• You are underweight (less than 85% of the generally accepted norm for your age and height)
• You are in poor health. You notice that you bruise frequently, are exhausted, have a pale or sallow complexion, and dull and dry hair.
• You feel dizzy, you feel cold more often than others (the result of poor circulation), your eyes are dry, your tongue is swollen, your gums bleed, and your body retains fluid.
• If you are a woman, your menstrual cycle is three months or more late.
• Bulimia is characterized by additional symptoms, such as scratches on one or more fingers, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, swollen joints, and so on.

Pay attention to changes in behavior. In addition to physical symptoms, eating disorders are also associated with emotional and behavioral changes. These include:

• If someone tells you that you are underweight, you will be skeptical of such a statement and will do everything possible to convince the person otherwise; you don't like talking about being underweight.
• You wear loose, baggy clothes to hide sudden or significant weight loss.
• You apologize for not being present during meals, or find ways to eat very little, hide food, or induce vomiting after eating.
• You are obsessed with dieting. All conversations come down to the topic of dieting. You try your best to eat as little as possible.
• You are haunted by the fear of becoming fat; you are aggressively opposed to your figure and weight.
• You are subjecting your body to grueling and severe physical stress.
• You avoid communicating with other people and try not to go out.

Now no one will argue that mental health most directly affects physical health. But it is difficult to imagine such a direct connection between these two concepts, as is the case with the consequences of mental disorders called “ eating disorders».

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders or eating disorders are deviations from normal eating behavior. Normality is understood as regular healthy eating that does not cause any physical or psychological discomfort in a person. But in the case of eating disorders, the emphasis shifts either to cutting down your diet or to exaggerating its increase. At the same time, it is worth distinguishing between such concepts as “dietary nutrition” and “eating disorders”.

The goal of the diet is to restore health; ideally, it should always be prescribed by a nutritionist, and some restrictions in the diet only contribute to recovery and sometimes weight loss. If we talk about eating disorders, then we should mean, firstly, unauthorized operations uncontrolled by doctors to change one’s normal diet, which ultimately lead not to recovery, but to a significant deterioration in a person’s health, and sometimes to death, because the body urgently needs a balanced diet for normal functioning, otherwise you should expect trouble.

Let's talk in more detail about the main typical cases of eating disorders.

– pathological behavior in which a person specifically refuses to eat, driven by dominant desires for thinness and fear of gaining weight. Often, the actual state of affairs regarding the weight of an anorectic does not correspond to his ideas about himself, that is, the patient himself thinks that he is too fat, while in reality his weight can hardly be called sufficient for life.

Psychological symptoms of anorexia are: obsessive thoughts about one’s own fatness, denial of the presence of a problem in the area of ​​nutrition, violation of eating methods (cutting food into small pieces, eating while standing), depression, poor control over emotions, changes in social behavior (avoidance, reclusiveness, sudden changes in priorities and interests ).

Physical symptoms of anorexia: problems with the menstrual cycle (amenorrhea - absence of menstruation, algodismenorrhea - painful menstruation), cardiac arrhythmia, constant weakness, feeling cold and inability to warm up, muscle spasms.

The consequences of anorexia are dire. In pursuit of the modern ideal of beauty, which is expressed in emphasized thinness, anorexics forget about the other components. As a result, patients begin to look terrifying: due to insufficient supply of nutrients, the skin becomes dry and pale, hair falls out on the head and small hair appears on the face and back, numerous swelling appears, the structure of the nails is disrupted, and all this against the background of progressive dystrophy in the form protruding under the skin of the skeleton.

But all this cannot be compared with the danger of death of patients. According to statistics, if anorexia is not treated, every tenth patient dies. Death can occur as a result of a malfunction of the heart, due to a general inhibition of all body functions, or due to.

Bulimia nervosa– an eating disorder, manifested in the inability to control one’s appetite, is expressed in periodic bouts of painful hunger, which is very difficult to satisfy.

People with bulimia experience an obsessive desire to eat, even if they do not feel hungry. Often this behavior leads to obesity, but this is not a necessary indicator, since many patients, driven by a sense of guilt, prefer to empty the stomach of food by inducing vomiting. The patterns in which patients with bulimia act can be different, but basically the disease manifests itself in an attack-like desire to eat (sudden manifestation of increased appetite), in nighttime overeating (hunger increases at night) or in the constant incessant absorption of food.

The mental symptoms of bulimia are similar to the mental symptoms of anorexia, but the physical symptoms are different. If a bulimic, subject to ravenous hunger, does not stop eating, then the natural and least of the consequences will be obesity. However, if the patient prefers to empty the stomach after each meal, the situation gets worse.

Firstly, bulimics, like anorectics, try to hide their behavior for as long as possible, if in the latter it manifests itself quite quickly (relatives notice that the person does not eat anything), then in the former it is possible to hide their condition for a relatively long time, because with the help of vomiting the weight is kept in a stable state within the normal range and the person often demonstrates a good appetite, which does not prevent him, however, from flushing what he eats down the drain after a while. Therefore, loved ones may not even realize that there is a person next to them who is in dire need of help. After all, after some time and as a result of such manipulations with your body, your health fails.

Secondly, vomit contains gastric juice, which consists of hydrochloric acid and some other digestive agents. These substances, when regularly inducing vomiting, destroy the delicate walls of the esophagus, which is not at all intended for such an effect, becoming the causes of ulcerations. The oral cavity also suffers, tooth enamel is destroyed and there is a real risk of tooth loss. We should not forget that those who use such a “weight control method” for bulimia, just like anorectics, do not receive sufficient nutrition, because the food simply does not have time to be digested, which in the future threatens exactly the same problems with physical health and death.

In addition to these two types of eating disorders, researchers have identified many others. For example, orthorexia (obsessive desire to eat only the right healthy food), selective eating disorder (when a person necessarily strives to eat only certain foods, avoiding all others and also new unfamiliar foods), eating inedible things, obsessive-compulsive overeating (when eating is caused by obsessive desire to be safe and plays the role of a “ritual” when ).