How to build a healthy relationship with food

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

Forget about rigid dietary rules. Severe food restrictions and constant control 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 limit yourself to food, the more likely it is that you will constantly think about it 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 perfectly well when it needs to replenish its energy reserves. Listen to him. Eat only when you are really hungry, stop eating as soon as you feel full.

Stick to a regular meal schedule. Perhaps you are used to skipping certain meals or not eating anything for a long time. But remember that when you do not 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, chances are you have learned to ignore the hunger and satiety signals your body sends. You may not even recognize them anymore. Your task is to learn how to respond to these natural signals again so that you can plan your meals according to your physiological needs.

Learn to accept and love yourself just the way you are.

When you base your self-worth solely on looks, 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 looks are at the bottom of their list of things they like about you, and you probably rate them on roughly the same scale of values. So why is your appearance so important to you?

Paying too much attention to how you look, you "slide" into low self-esteem and lose confidence in your own abilities. But you can learn to perceive yourself in a positive, "harmonious" way:

Make a list of your positive qualities. Think of everything 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 negative qualities that YOU DON'T HAVE.

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

Stop thinking about yourself in a negative way. As soon as you notice that you start thinking negatively again, harshly criticizing yourself, judging, feeling guilty, stop. Ask yourself, do you have any real basis for such judgments? How can you refute them? Remember, your belief in something else is no guarantee of the truth.

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

Get rid of fashion magazines. Even knowing that all the photos in these magazines are completely photoshopped, they can still make you feel insecure and inferior. It is better to stay away from them until you are sure that they do not undermine 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 of your choice.

Lead an active lifestyle. Movement is essential for your mental and physical well-being. It is best if these are outdoor workouts.

Eating Disorder Prevention Tips

Treating eating disorders is a long process. It is very important to maintain the achieved results in order to avoid recurrence 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 sap your energy, encourage erratic eating behavior, or make you feel bad. Refuse to communicate with girlfriends who always comment on your changes in weight. All these comments are not made out of good intentions, but out of 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 more useful your life becomes, the less you will think about food and weight loss.

The enemy must be known by sight. Decide under what conditions the likelihood of a 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, you may visit your eating disorder specialist more frequently during these times, or ask for additional moral support from your family and friends.

Avoid sites on the Internet that promote an unhealthy attitude towards your body. Avoid information resources that advertise and encourage anorexia and bulimia. Behind these sites are people who are trying to justify their unhealthy attitude to the body and nutrition. The "support" they offer is dangerous and will only hinder your recovery.

Be sure to follow your individual treatment plan. Don't skip visits to an eating disorder specialist or other parts of your treatment, even if you see improvement. Strictly follow all the recommendations developed by your "treatment team".

Eating disorders are psychological illnesses characterized by abnormal eating habits, which may include insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of physical and mental health. and are the most common forms of eating disorders. Other types of eating disorders include compulsive eating and other eating and eating disorders. Bulimia nervosa is a disorder characterized by binge eating and bowel cleansing. 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-depletion and great weight loss, which often causes women who are menstruating to stop menstruating, a phenomenon known as amenorrhea, although some women who have other criteria for anorexia nervosa according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness , 5th edition, still noted some menstrual activity. In this version of the Guidelines, two subtypes of anorexia nervosa are identified, the restrictive type and the purging type. Patients suffering from 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 one of the bowel cleansing methods. The difference between purging-type anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa is the body weight of the patient. In anorexia, patients do well at normal body weight, while in bulimia, they may have a body weight that ranges from normal to overweight and obese. While it was originally thought that these disorders are characteristic of women (an estimated 5-10 million people in the UK), eating disorders are also noted in men. An estimated 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 number of cases of eating disorders is increasing worldwide in men and women, there is evidence to suggest that women in the Western world are at the highest risk of developing such disorders, and the degree of Europeanization increases the risk. About half of Americans personally know people with eating disorders. The ability to understand the central processes of appetite, as well as knowledge in the field of studying the functions of the brain, has increased significantly since the discovery of leptin. Eating behavior involves interrelated drive, 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 related to 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 showed that girls with ADHD were more likely to develop eating disorders than girls without ADHD. Another study suggests that women with post-traumatic stress disorder, especially sexually motivated ones, are at the most likely risk of developing anorexia nervosa. One study showed that female foster children 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 note that for certain people there are genetic reasons for the possible susceptibility to the development of eating disorders. Recent studies have found evidence of a correlation between patients with bulimia nervosa and substance abuse disorders. In addition, anxiety and personality disorders are commonly observed in patients with eating disorders, which may have a cognitive component of inappropriate hunger, which may cause various feelings of psychological distress 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 the eating disorder or comorbid conditions such as suicidal ideation).

Classification

Disorders currently approved in medical guidelines

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

Disorders not currently covered by 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 vision of self. 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 association between body dysmorphic disorder and anorexia comes from the fact that both body dysmorphic disorder and anorexia are characterized by preoccupation with physical appearance and disturbance of body image. There are also many other possibilities, such as environmental, social and interpersonal issues, that can contribute to and stimulate the development of these diseases. Also, the media is often blamed for the increase in cases of eating disorders due to the fact that the media promotes the ideal image of a physically fit person, such as models and celebrities, who motivate or even coerce the audience to try to achieve the same result on their own. The media has been accused of distorting reality in the sense that people portrayed in the media are either naturally thin and thus not indicative of the norm, or are abnormally thin by striving to look like an ideal image through excessive physical exertion. 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 prevalent.

Biological causes

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 be inherited. Recent studies involving twins have found few examples of genetic variation when considering different criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa as disease endophenotypes in general. In another recent study involving couples and families, researchers found a genetic link on chromosome 1 that can be found in several family members of a patient with anorexia nervosa, pointing to a pattern of inheritance found between family members or others with a provisional diagnosis of an eating disorder. The study found that a patient who is the closest relative of a person who has suffered or is currently suffering from an eating disorder is 7-12 times more likely to suffer from an eating disorder. Twin studies have also shown that at least part of the susceptibility to developing eating disorders can be inherited, and sufficient evidence has been obtained 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 do not depend on or change the underlying DNA sequence. They are inherited but can also occur during 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 alterations in atrial natriuretic peptide homeostasis in women with eating disorders".

Biochemical reasons: 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, elevated levels of which have been found in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, as well as depression .

• Leptin and ghrelin: Leptin is a hormone produced primarily by the body's fat cells that has an appetite-inhibiting effect by inducing satiety. 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 can also be used to distinguish between the inherent thinness of healthy people with a low body mass index and those with anorexia nervosa.

  Gut bacteria and the immune system: Studies have shown that most patients with anorexia and bulimia nervosa have elevated levels of autoimmune antibodies that affect hormones and neuropeptides that regulate appetite control and response to stress. There may be a direct correlation between autoimmune antibody levels and associated subjective symptoms. In the latest study, it was found that autoimmune antibodies that react with alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone were actually produced against ClpB, a protein produced by a certain intestinal bacterium, such as E. 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 psychological characteristics of the patient.

  Infections: PANDAS (abbreviation for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric diseases associated with streptococcal infection). Children with PANDAS "have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders such as Tourette's syndrome and whose symptoms worsen after 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 provoking 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 regions of the brain have been implicated in the development of abnormal eating patterns.

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

  Obstetric complications: There have been studies that have shown that maternal smoking, obstetric and perinatal complications such as maternal anemia, very preterm birth (less than 32 weeks), birth small for gestational age, 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 of these developmental risks, such as placental infarction, maternal anemia, and heart problems, can cause intrauterine hypoxia, cord compression, or cord prolapse and can cause ischemia leading to damage to the brain, prefrontal cortex in the fetus, newborn with This is highly susceptible to injury as it has been noted that the result of oxygen deprivation can contribute to executive dysfunction, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and may affect personality traits associated with eating disorders and comorbidities such as impulsivity, mental rigidity, and obsessions. The issue of perinatal brain injury regarding the impact on society and on affected individuals and their families is extraordinary (Yafeng Dong, PhD) .

  Wasting Symptom: Evidence suggests that the symptoms of eating disorders are actual symptoms of wasting in and of themselves, rather than a mental disorder. In a study of 36 healthy young men who were undergoing fasting therapy, the men soon began to experience symptoms commonly seen in patients with eating disorders. In this study, healthy men ate about half of the food they were accustomed to eating and soon developed symptoms and the study pattern (preoccupation with food and food, ritual eating, cognitive decline, 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 gathering 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 Illness 4th Edition (DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association. There are various other psychological problems that may contribute to the development of eating disorders, some of which meet the criteria for a separate Axis I diagnosis or personality disorders that are Axis II and thus considered concomitant to the diagnosed eating disorder. Axis II disorders are divided into 3 groups: A, B and C. The causal relationship between personality disorders and eating disorders is not fully understood. Some patients have a prior disorder that may increase susceptibility to developing eating disorders. For some, they develop immediately. The severity and type of symptoms of eating disorders have been noted to influence comorbidities. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness, 4th Edition, should not be used by laypersons for self-diagnosis, even when used by professionals, there has been considerable discussion regarding the diagnostic criteria used for various diagnoses, including eating disorders. There have been inconsistencies in various editions of the Guide, including the latest May 2013 5th edition.

Problems of deviation of attention in the cognitive process

Attention deviation can affect eating disorders. Numerous 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 for the influence of attentional deviation on the development of eating disorders

Shafran, Lee, Cooper, Palmer and Fairburn (2007) conducted a study investigating the effect of attention diversion on the development of eating disorders in women with anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders compared with controls and found that patients with eating disorders identified "bad" eating scenarios than "good" ones.

Attention Deviation in Anorexia Nervosa

A more specific study of eating disorders was carried out by Veenstra and de Jong (2012). He found that patients in both the control group and the eating disorder group showed a deviation in attention from high-fat foods and a negative eating pattern. Patients with eating disorders showed a greater deviation of attention from food that is viewed as "bad". In this study, we hypothesized that negative attentional bias might facilitate food restriction in patients with eating disorders.

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

Smeets, Jansen and Roefs (2005) investigated body dissatisfaction and its association with attentional bias and found that induced bias for unattractive body parts made participants think less of 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 approaching need for maturity, and sociocultural influences and subjective expectations, especially in areas related 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 modalities such as functional magnetic resonance imaging is still ongoing, these traits have been noted to originate in different areas of the brain, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Eating behavior has been noted to be affected by disturbances in the prefrontal cortex and the 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 contributing factor to a wide range of psychiatric disorders, including eating disorders. Abused children may develop an eating disorder in an attempt to gain some sense of control or comfort, or may be placed in an environment where the diet is unhealthy or inadequate. Child abuse and neglect cause profound changes in the physiology and neurochemistry of the developing brain. Children in public care, placed in orphanages or foster families are particularly susceptible to developing eating disorders. In a New Zealand study, 25% of participants in foster care developed eating disorders (Tarren-Sweeney M. 2006). An unbalanced home environment negatively affects a child's emotional state, even in the absence of overt violence or negligent behavior, the stress of an unstable home situation can contribute to the development of eating disorders.

social isolation

Social isolation has a detrimental effect on a person's physical and emotional well-being. Socially isolated individuals have a higher percentage of death, in general, compared to individuals who have social relationships. This effect on mortality is greatly increased in individuals with pre-existing medical and psychiatric disorders, and has been particularly noted in coronary heart disease. “The magnitude of 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 emotional overeating, in which food serves as a source of pleasure. Thus, the associated loneliness in social isolation and the inevitable stressors are also implicated as triggers for the development of compulsive overeating. Waller, Kennerley and Ohanian (2007) argue that the purgative and restrictive types are emotion suppression strategies, but they are used only at different times. For example, food restriction is used to suppress emotion activity, while the binge-vomit pattern is used after emotion is activated.

Influence of parents

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 large number of different factors, such as familial genetic predisposition, dietary choices dictated by culture or ethnicity, body measurements and eating behavior of parents, 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 environment for raising a child. Parental maladaptive behavior has been noted to play an important role in the development of eating disorders in children. With regard to the 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 forcing parents to eat more. Coercive dietary tactics have been shown to be ineffective in controlling a child's eating behavior. Affect and attention have been shown to influence the degree to which a child is picky and accepts more varied foods. Heald Bruch, a pioneer in the field of eating disorder research, argues that anorexia nervosa often occurs in girls who excel in school, are obedient, and always try to please their parents. Their parents tend to be overly controlling and fail to encourage the expression of emotions by suppressing their daughters' acceptance of their own feelings and desires. Adolescent girls in their domineering families lack the ability to be independent from their families and fulfill their needs, which often leads to outright defiance. Controlling their food intake can help them feel more confident as it gives them a sense of control.

Peer pressure

Various studies, such as one by researchers McKnight, have shown that peer pressure has a significant contribution to questions about body image and attitudes towards food among adolescent and young adult participants up to about 23 years of age. Eleanor Mackie and other authors, Annette M. La Greca of the University of Miami, conducted a study of 236 teenage girls from public high schools in southeast Florida. "Adolescent girls' concerns about their weight, how they appear in front of others, and their sense that their peers would like to see them slimmer, is largely related to their weight management behaviors," says psychologist Eleanor Mackie of the National Medical pediatric center in Washington, DC, the main author of the study. "It's really important." According to one study, 40% of girls aged 9-10 are already trying to lose weight. It is noted that such a diet is influenced by the behavior of their peers, as many of them who are on a diet also claim that their friends are also on a diet. The number of dieting friends and the number of friends who force them to go on a diet also play a significant role in their own choice. High-class athletes have a significantly higher percentage 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% with bulimia and anorexia are males[citation needed].

cultural pressure

This is a cultural emphasis on thinness that predominantly dominates Western society. There is an unrealistic stereotype about beauty and a perfect figure, presented by the media, the fashion and entertainment industry. "Cultural pressures on men and women to be "impeccable" is an important predisposing factor in the development of eating disorders." Further, when women of all races base their self-esteem on what is considered the ideal body in the culture, the incidence of eating disorders increases. Such disorders are becoming prevalent in non-Western countries where thinness is not seen as an ideal, showing that social and cultural pressures are not the only causes of eating disorders. For example, studies of anorexia in non-Western regions of the world indicate that these disorders are not only "culturally determined", as previously thought. However, studies examining the percentage of bulimia 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. Also, socioeconomic status was considered as a risk factor for the development of eating disorders, suggesting that the possession of more resources allows a person to actively choose a diet and reduce body weight. Some studies have also shown a relationship between increased body dissatisfaction with rising socioeconomic status. However, after reaching a high socioeconomic status, the connection 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, who receive a lot of attention. Society has taught people that the approval of others must be obtained at all costs. Unfortunately, this led to the belief that in order to satisfy 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 exactly what contestants judge it based on their own opinions. In addition to considering socioeconomic status, the world of sports is also 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 of the categories of sports where results are weight-based. 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, which forces 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 muscle gain goal is as much an eating disorder as the lean obsession. 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 (dance, 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 support eating disorders to maintain competitive advantage, others use exercise as a way to maintain weight and body shape. It's as serious as regulating food intake for competition. While there is mixed evidence showing that certain athletes experience eating disorders, research shows that despite the level of competition, all athletes are at an increased risk of developing eating disorders than non-athletes, especially those who participate in those sports in which harmony matters. Societal pressure is also noted within the homosexual community. Homosexuals are at an increased risk of developing eating disorder symptoms than heterosexual men. In a homosexual culture, a muscular body provides an advantage in social and sexual attractiveness, as well as power. Such pressure and the idea that another homosexual may desire a leaner or more muscular partner may possibly lead to eating disorders. The more symptoms of an eating disorder are noted, the more problem the patient has, how others perceive him, and the more frequent and debilitating physical activity. A high degree of dissatisfaction with one's own body is also associated with extrinsic motivation for exercise and old age; however, the image of a slim and muscular body is more prevalent among young than among older homosexuals. It is important to be aware of some of the limitations and challenges of many studies that attempt to explore the role of culture, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. For beginners, most cross-cultural research uses definitions from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness, 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 impairments. Also, when considering patients from areas of potential influence of Western culture, some studies have attempted to measure how much a person has adapted to popular culture or remained faithful to the traditional cultural values ​​of their region. Finally, most of the cross-cultural studies of eating disorders and self-image disorders were conducted in Western countries, not in countries or regions of study. While there are many factors that influence a person's representation of their own body image, the media play a large role. Together with the media, the influence of parents, peers and self-confidence also play a significant role in a person's vision of himself. The way images are presented to the media 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 occur in both sexes (Schwitzer 2012). The media have an influence on the development of eating disorders, either positively or negatively, so they have a responsibility to warn the audience by 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 stunted growth. Unexplained hoarseness may be a symptom of an underlying eating disorder resulting from acid reflux, or the release of acidic stomach contents into the larynx and esophagus. Patients who induce vomiting, such as those with purging-type anorexia nervosa or purging-type bulimia nervosa, are at risk for developing acid reflux. Polycystic ovaries is the most common endocrine disorder in women. Often associated with obesity, it can also occur in patients with normal weight. Polycystic ovary disease has been associated with compulsive overeating and bulimia.

Anorexia propaganda subculture

Men

So far, supporting evidence suggests that gender discrimination among medical practitioners means that men are less likely to be diagnosed with bulimia or anorexia despite identical behavior. Men are more likely to be diagnosed with depression due to changes in appetite than 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 an almost exclusively female disease (Maine and Bunnell 2008). Most of the early academic knowledge during the early 1990s. tended not to view prevalence in males as more, if not entirely, irrelevant than such disorders in females (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 eating disorders during their lifetime (Health Canada, 2002). The percentage of eating disorders is not only increasing among women, men are also more concerned about their appearance than ever before. Health Canada (2002) found that almost one in two girls and one in five boys at age 10 is either on a diet or wants to lose weight. Since 1987, admissions for eating disorders have generally increased by 34% among boys under 15 and by 29% among boys aged 15 to 24 (Health Canada, 2002). In Canada, the percentage of separation of patients in hospitals by age 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 statistical data that are current and relevant. The latest work by Schoen and Greenberg (Greenberg & Schoen, 2008) suggests that the same prevailing social factors that lead to an increase in the number of digestive disorders among women in the late 1980s. , may also be veiled by public opinion about a similar susceptibility of men. As a result, male eating disorders and prevalence were underreported or misdiagnosed. Particular attention has recently been drawn to the gendered nature of the diagnosis and the different methods of presentation in men; diagnostic criteria focusing on weight loss, fear of gaining weight, and physical symptoms such as amenorrhea cannot be applied to men with eating disorders, many of whom over-exercise, muscularity, and self-determination are valued over absolute weight loss; men resent certain terms, such as "fear of getting fat," which they see as instilling insecurity and robbed of 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, most of the available data are difficult to assess, insufficiently reported or simply incorrect. The message that there is no ideal body shape, figure, or weight that every person should strive to achieve is still more geared towards women, and those activities that include men still prominently mark gender representation (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 uniform in the media (i.e., the range of “acceptable” male physical characteristics is wider), but instead focuses on perceived or perceived masculinity (Gaughen, 2004, 7 and Maine and Bunnell, 2008). More acute than ever, there is a lack of consensus in the literature regarding unique risk factors for homosexual or bisexual men; The U.S. Center for Population Research in LGBT Health Assessment notes prevalence in the LGBT population at about twice the national average for women and about 3.5 times that for men. At the same time, a similar study (Feldman and Meyer, 2007) failed to explain the data processing of the results, and a subsequent study (Hatzenbuehler et al., 2009) suggests that members of the LGBT community are protected to some extent from the prevalence of psychiatric illness, including including eating disorders. As mentioned above, the sheer lack of research continues to present a barrier to reaching an extended conclusion on the topic. A 2014 report in Salon estimated 42 percent of men with eating disorders who identified as homosexual or bisexual. Current treatment for men with eating disorders takes place 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 a barrier to accessing treatment, as well as additional stereotypes that they suffer from a “feminine” 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 extremely rare as the resources required to ensure that services are available, appropriate care, adequate staff, shelters and places for the transition period and psychological counseling on underlying violence is no longer available. Many cases in Canada fall under US treatment data due to the lack of relevant services offered (Vitiello and Lederhendler 2000). For example, in one case, a patient with anorexia nervosa who was initially admitted to a children's hospital in Toronto was subsequently advised to be transferred to a hospital in Arizona (Jones, 2007). In 2006, the Province of Ontario alone referred 45 patients (36 of them males) to the United States for treatment of eating disorders, totaling 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) offer a unique approach to managing eating disorders in men. They call for counseling focused on how the patient responds to pressures and expectations rather than looking at the individual pathology of eating disorders. Current treatments in this regard show some success (Health Canada, 2011), but there is no patient-based review and feedback. Physical symptom monitoring, behavioral and cognitive therapy, body image therapy, nutritional counseling, education, and medication when needed are currently available in some form, although all of these programs are provided regardless of the patient's gender (data from the Ministry of Health, 2002 and Maine and Bunnell, 2008). Up to 20% of patients with eating disorders eventually die from their disease, another 15% resort to suicide. With access to treatment, 75-80% of adolescent girls recover, and less than 50% of boys recover (Macleans, 2005). Moreover, there are some limitations in data collection as most studies are case-based, which makes it difficult to report results to the general population. Patients with eating disorders require a wide range of treatments for physical complications and psychological problems, costing approximately US$1,600 per day (Timothy and Cameron, 2005, 100). Treatment of patients diagnosed post-hospital based on their condition is more costly (about three times the cost) and also less effective, with a corresponding reduction of over 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 have difficulty with their identity and self-image may be at risk, as well as those who have experienced a traumatic event (Report on Mental Illness in Canada, 2002). In addition, many patients with eating disorders report a sense of helplessness in their socioeconomic environment and see diet, exercise, and bowel cleansing as a means of increasing control over their lives. The traditional approach (Trebay, 2008 and Derenne and Beresin, 2006) for understanding the underlying causes of eating disorders focuses on the role of media and sociocultural pressures; the idealization of slimness (for women) and muscularity (for men) often goes beyond a simple bodily image. The media implicitly implies that not only do people with a "perfect" body tend to be more confident, successful, healthy and happy, but that being thin is associated with positive character traits such as dependability, solidity and decency (Harvey and Robinson, 2003). The traditional view of eating disorders is reflected in the generalized image of the media, 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 point of view, 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 accomplishments 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 when children and adolescents become significantly more exposed to prevailing cultural norms, boys and girls are at risk of developing distorted ideas about themselves and their bodies (Andersen and Homan, 1997). When their desired body image goals are not achieved, they may experience a sense of failure, which contributes to a further decline in self-esteem, confidence, and body dissatisfaction. Some also suffer from psychological and mental conditions such as shame, failure, deprivation, and unsustainable diets (Maine and Bunnell, 2008). Eating disorders can make a person feel tired and depressed, decrease mental function and concentration, and can lead to malnutrition with a risk to bone health, physical growth, and brain development. There are also increased risks of osteoporosis and reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, a decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and also a decrease in metabolic rate (NEDIC, 2006). In addition, patients with eating disorders rank third in their predisposition to violence against themselves 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 disturbances in body image, such as problems with weight and body shape; while the following is observed: self-esteem depends too much on the weight and shape of the body; fear of gaining weight even when underweight; denial of the severity of symptoms and distorted vision of the body.

Diagnostics

The initial diagnosis must be made by a qualified physician. "The history is the most powerful tool for diagnosing eating disorders" (American Family Medicine). There are many diseases that mask eating disorders and comorbid psychiatric disorders. All organic disorders should be investigated before a diagnosis of an eating disorder or other psychiatric disorder is made. Eating disorders have become more prominent over the past 30 years, and it is unclear whether the change in presentation reflects a true increase in cases. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most well-defined subgroups of a broader range of eating disorders. Many patients present subthreshold expression of two main diagnoses: other disorders with different presentation and symptoms.

Medical factors

The diagnostic evaluation usually includes a complete medical and psychosocial history, followed by a reasonable 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 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 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 anorexia nervosa with early onset. Secondly, neuroimaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of early-onset anorexia nervosa from a clinical and research point of view ”(O" Brien et al. 2001).

Psychological factors

In the field of organic causes and the initial diagnosis of an eating disorder by a physician, a qualified psychiatrist assists in assessing and prescribing 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 of them 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 long-term study notes that there is an increased chance that young adult women will develop bulimia due to current psychological pressure, but as a person ages and matures, their emotional problems change or resolve and then the symptoms subside.

Differential Diagnosis

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

Psychological disorders that may resemble or accompany eating disorders:

Prevention

Prevention aims to promote healthy development before the onset of eating disorders. It also aims at early detection of eating disorders before treatment is still appropriate. Children aged 5-7 are aware of the cultural propaganda regarding body image and diet. Prevention consists in highlighting these problems. The following topics should be discussed with children (as well as 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 using prevention programs with the help of online resources makes it possible to convey information to many people at minimal cost. Such an approach can also make prevention programs rational.

Forecast

Treatment

Treatment differs depending on the type and severity of the eating disorder, and several treatment options are commonly used. However, there is insufficient evidence to support treatments and controls, the current understanding of which is based mainly on clinical experience. Therefore, prior to treatment, the family physician will play an important role in the early treatment of patients with eating disorders who do not wish to see a psychiatrist, and much of the success will depend on trying to establish a good relationship with the patient and family in the main treatment. Some of the treatments are:

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

results

The final estimates are complicated by the heterogeneous criteria used across studies, but for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge nervosa, 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 are responsible for approximately 7,000 deaths per year as of 2010, making them the mental illness with the highest mortality rate.

Feminist literature and theory

Economic aspects

Total U.S. spending on inpatient eating disorder treatment has risen from $165 million in 1999-2000 to $165 million. to US$277 million in 2008-2009, an increase of 68%. The average cost per patient with eating disorders increased by 29% over ten years from $7,300 to $9,400.

During the decade, hospitalization of patients with eating disorders has increased across all age groups. The largest increase was seen in the 45-65 year old group (an increase of 88%) followed by hospitalization of patients under 12 years of age (an increase of 72%).

The majority of patients with eating disorders are women. In 2008-2009 88% of cases involving women, 12% - men. The report also noted a 53% increase in male hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of an eating disorder from 10% to 12% within 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, MH; Paras, M.L.; Colbenson, KM; Sattler, A.L.; Goranson, EN; Elamine, M.B.; Seime, RJ; Shinozaki, G; Prokop, LJ; 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 of modern society, which claims the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world. It has psychological aspects that often occur in adolescence, during the period of personality formation. At first, refusing food or eating in stressful situations is rare, and later it turns into a lifestyle that even a very strong-willed person cannot change on his own. Another problem is that people with eating disorders do not agree to admit the problem to the last and oppose any offered help.

Manifestations of ED

It is not so easy to identify the presence of a tendency to an eating disorder, because the patient hides deviations in every possible way and is sometimes likened to the behavior of a drug addict or an alcoholic. He begins to eat stealthily or provoke vomiting after a joint meal in the family circle, thereby diverting suspicion from himself. In psychiatry, there are many cases where adolescents managed to mask their nutritional 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 suspect the prerequisites for the development of the disease in a timely manner. Eating disorders in preschool and early school children can only be noticed by parents, so it is worth paying special attention to their behavior. The most serious causes leading to the disease are formed in childhood. Their timely detection will avoid global problems in adolescence and adulthood. The presence of RPP will be evidenced by:

• concern about their appearance, body structure, figure;
• inadequate perception of food, a great need for it or imaginary indifference;
• rare or frequent meals;
• quirks during the meal, such as the desire to divide a sandwich into many small parts;
• scrupulous 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 rejection of certain types of products;
• great interest in celebrities who have ideal, according to stereotypes, body proportions.

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

bulimia

Bulimia is a neurogenic disorder that leads to the development of uncontrolled eating in large quantities and does not always coincide with the person's taste preferences. Bouts of gluttony are replaced by violent attacks based on self-criticism. A person eats until he feels a clear excess due to overdistension of the stomach and esophagus. Usually bouts of gluttony end in vomiting and extremely poor general condition. But after a while, everything repeats again, and a person is not able 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, resorts to gastric lavage measures. As a result, a person loses contact with himself and falls into a deep depression. The eating disorder persists and even worsens. Attempts to cope with the disease on their own lead to the development of anorexia, and after a breakdown - again to uncontrolled weight gain. A long-term similar condition leads to a complete imbalance in the body and often ends in death.

Anorexia

The main features of the manifestation of anorexia are a sharp restriction in the quantity and changes in the qualitative composition 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 volume and the process of losing weight will be disrupted. In their view, the body mass index should be several points lower than normal, and there are no limits to perfection, and the slimmer the waist and the thinner the legs, the more attractive the figure seems to others. With 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 altogether.

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 workouts - up to loss of consciousness. The most dangerous symptom in anorexia is specially induced vomiting. At this stage, patients suppress appetite and provoke the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

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 self-move and self-service. 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. It is all to blame for the irreversible consequences that have arisen, as a result of which the body ceases to take nutrients from the outside, even in the form of a drip in a hospital.

Compulsive overeating

Binge eating disorder is a type of bulimia. The fundamental difference is that a person does not accept the state as pathological and does not seek to unload. He regularly consumes increased 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 pattern of symptoms. 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 the moment of a slight hunger, he tends to eat a portion several times the size of the standard one. When eating delicious food, he cannot stop and deny himself the pleasure, which leads to regular gluttony. Partly in this way, patients overcome stressful situations.

Treatment

Given the severity of the disease and the versatility of its manifestation, 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 is healed of a provoking factor, there can be no talk of a complete recovery. The specialist begins work on recreating the correct image of a person, pushing him to self-knowledge and restoring the perception of himself as 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 are amenable to psychotherapy and permanently get rid of the disease, a quarter manage to partially cope, and the rest are doomed to an unfavorable outcome.

The healing process can be considered launched only after a person realizes the presence of the disease and shows a desire for healing. An eating disorder is not amenable to coercive therapy. Psychotherapy sessions take place 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 unattended by a doctor at any time can be fatal.

Psychotherapy sessions are held in individual, group and family modes. Their duration and timeliness depends on the degree of the disease and its manifestations. Family therapy is an integral part of the treatment, because the patient needs support and achieving complete harmony in relationships with others and loved ones. At this stage, a culture of nutrition is instilled, training courses are held on the balance and rationality of the products used. Gradually, a person gets rid of the obsessed attention on his appearance, abandoning the previous diet.

In order to direct energy in the right direction, it is very important to find activities that interest you. Many plunge into the mysterious world of yoga and meditation. Self-knowledge and self-development play an important role in the process of recovery and turning to a new rhythm of life. Often, the therapist suggests living according to a schedule, where all actions are performed at a clearly allotted time. In this mode, there is always a place for outdoor walks, 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 refuses to plan.

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

Look out for warning signs. You must be honest with yourself if you find such symptoms. Remember, eating disorders can have life-threatening complications. Don't underestimate the seriousness of an eating disorder. Also, don't think you can handle it on your own without someone's help. Don't overestimate your strengths. Key warning signs to look out for include:

• You are underweight (less than 85% of the normal range for your age and height)
• You are in poor health. You notice that you often bruise, you are emaciated, you have a pale or sallow complexion, dull and dry hair.
• You feel dizzy, you feel cold more often than others (the result of poor circulation), you feel dry eyes, you have a swollen tongue, your gums bleed, and fluid is retained in the body.
• If you are a woman, your period 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 about 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 clothing to hide sudden or significant weight loss.
• You ask for forgiveness for not being able to be present at meals, or find ways to eat very little, hide food, or induce vomiting after meals.
• You are fixated on a diet. 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 expose your body to exhausting and severe physical stress.
• You avoid socializing 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 in the case of 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 a regular healthy diet that does not cause any physical and psychological discomfort in a person. But in the case of eating disorders, the emphasis shifts to either cutting down on your diet or exaggerating its increase. At the same time, it is worth distinguishing between such concepts as “dietary nutrition” and “malnutrition”.

The diet is intended to restore health, ideally it should always be prescribed by a dietitian, and some dietary restrictions only contribute to recovery and sometimes weight loss. If we are talking about malnutrition, then we should firstly mean unauthorized operations uncontrolled by doctors to change their normal diet, which ultimately lead not to recovery, but to a significant deterioration in human health, and sometimes to death, because the body in dire need of a balanced diet for normal life, 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 the dominant desires of thinness and fear of gaining weight. Often, the actual state of affairs regarding the weight of the anorectic does not correspond to his ideas about himself, that is, the patient himself thinks that he is too full, while in reality his weight can hardly be called sufficient for life.

The psychological symptoms of anorexia are: obsessive thoughts about one's own fullness, denial of a problem in the field of nutrition, violation of eating habits (cutting food into small pieces, eating standing up), depression, poor control over emotions, changes in social behavior (avoidance, seclusion, a sharp change in priorities and interests ).

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

The consequences of anorexia are deplorable. In pursuit of the modern ideal of beauty, which is expressed in emphasized thinness, anorectics forget about the rest of the components. As a result, patients begin to look terrifying: due to insufficient intake of nutrients, the skin becomes dry and pale, hair falls out on the head and fine hair appears on the face and back, numerous edema appears, the structure of the nails is disturbed, 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- a violation of eating behavior, manifested in the inability to control one's appetite, is expressed in periodic bouts of excruciating hunger, which is very difficult to satisfy.

People with bulimia experience an obsessive desire to eat, even if they don't feel hungry. Often this behavior leads to obesity, but this is not a necessary indicator, since many patients, driven by guilt, prefer to free the stomach from food by inducing vomiting. The schemes according to which patients with bulimia act can be different, but basically the disease manifests itself in a paroxysmal desire to eat (sudden manifestation of increased appetite), in nighttime overeating (hunger intensifies at night) or in constant incessant absorption of food.

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

First, bulimics, like anorectics, tend to hide their behavior as long as possible, if in the latter it manifests itself rather quickly (relatives notice that a person does not eat anything), then in the former they manage to hide their condition for a relatively long time, because the weight with the help of vomiting 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 lowering what he has eaten down the drain after a while. Therefore, relatives may not be aware that there is a person next to them who is in dire need of help. Indeed, after some time and as a result of such manipulations with your body, health fails.

Secondly, vomit contains gastric juice, which consists of hydrochloric acid and some other digestive agents. These substances, with a regular invocation of vomiting, destroy the delicate walls of the esophagus, which is completely not intended for such an impact, becoming the causes of ulceration. The oral cavity also suffers, the enamel of the teeth is destroyed and there is a real risk of their loss. Do not forget that those who use such a “weight control method” for bulimia, as well as anorectics, do not receive enough good 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 more. For example, orthorexia (an obsessive desire to eat only the right wholesome food), selective eating disorder (when a person certainly strives to eat only certain foods, avoiding all others as well as new unfamiliar foods), eating inedible, obsessive-compulsive overeating (when eating is caused by obsessive the desire to be safe and plays the role of a "ritual" with).