Identifying eating disorders

By Nelly Obadha

Eating disorders have been in existence for centuries with the major one being anorexia — a disorder associated with restricting of one’s meals to a minimum or nothing at all.

Bulimia is another eating disorder and is characterised by excessive eating then forced puking to get rid of the excess food. Another common disorder is binge eating, which is characterised by continuous eating even when you are already full.

These disorders affect people of every age and gender. Some of these disorders, like anorexia, are driven by the need to fit and be accepted into a certain societal niche.

Anorexia

The major sign of anorexia is extreme obsession with maintaining low weight. To achieve this, many victims become obsessed with counting calories, not eating fatty foods while others choose to become extreme vegetarians. Anorexics are usually very thin and underweight.

Bulimia

Bulimics are people who eat and then immediately forcefully purge themselves of the food. They use whatever means to get rid of the food they have ingested. Many bulimics cannot control themselves from overeating, but immediately feel guilty, forcing them to want to purge themselves.

Bulimics also tend engage in rigorous exercises in an effort to burn the excess food they have eaten. Some use laxatives or diuretics to get rid of the excess food in their bodies.

Binge eating

Binge eating is characterised by excessive eating even when you are feeling full. Binge eaters usually eat until they become painfully full. Many of them are emotional eaters — whenever they are stressed or have an emotional problem, they turn to food for comfort.

Many binge eaters are overweight, avoid other people’s company during eating times and eat anything that comes their way.

Most victims of eating disorders neither accept that they have a problem nor seek help from those around them. These habits are usually indulged in secret and it is only through the symptoms that others can know there is a problem. If you spot any of the above symptoms in a friend or family member, you are the best person to approach the victim and talk to them about getting help.

If help is not sought early, these eating disorders can lead to health problems such as various deficiencies, muscle loss and dental problems, especially with bulimics. They also prevent victims from achieving health goals such as keeping fit and maintaining the right body weight. Some can even lead to death.