In her Netflix documentary, Miss Americana, American singer–songwriter, Taylor Swift reveals her relationship with food, talking about being so hungry after performances that she’d feel weak and on the verge of passing out.
Believe it or not, people can be addicted to food, a behaviour that may occur in response to emotions such as stress, sadness or anger. And as body image and self-esteem play a large role in eating disorders, it’s no surprise that many celebrities like Taylor Swift have struggled with this disorder. However, the disorder can affect anyone, not only celebrities.
Dr Nida Fatima Hazari, PhD (food and nutrition), Founder at Heal-Thy Nutrition by Nida, clarifies. “In some shape or form, we all have some idiosyncrasies around eating. Some eat a lot and some others eat when emotional, anxious, sad or happy. Yet others don’t eat at all when they are low, or because they fear weight gain. We need to worry when these issues turn into disorders,” cautions Dr Nida.
Understanding eating disorders
According to Dr Nida, eating disorders (ED), common in the western culture, are now prevalent in India too. “Societal pressure, the idea that ‘thin is beautiful’, global development, rapid changes in mind sets and influence of westernised concepts of health and beauty have all contributed to the prevalence of the disorder here,” she points out. “Research says at least 50% of patients with an ED are known to have a psychiatric comorbidity, with the most common being depression.”
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating are some of the common eating disorders as per Dr J Anish Anand, Consultant Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospitals.
“Moreover, people with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa tend to be perfectionists with low self-esteem and are extremely critical of themselves and their bodies.”
Manifestations of the disorder
Dr Anand lists out some of the eating disorders.
Anorexia nervosa: It limits calories excessively or uses other methods to lose weight, such as extreme exercises; using laxatives or abnormal diet plans; or vomiting after eating.
“Efforts to reduce weight, even when underweight, can cause severe health problems,” warns Dr Anand.
Bulimia nervosa: Bulimic also restrict their eating — but they eat large amounts of food in a short time, and then try ridding themselves of the extra calories in an unhealthy manner — out of guilt, shame and intense fear of weight gain. Even bulimics may indulge in forced vomiting, exercising too much or using laxatives to get rid of the calories.
Binge-eating: Binge-eaters feel guilty, disgusted or ashamed by their behaviour and the amount of food eaten, but they don’t try to ‘compensate’ with excessive exercise or purging, as bulimics or anorexics do.
Rumination disorder: Those suffering from this disorder regurgitate food after eating, though not due to a medical condition or any of the above eating disorders. Food is brought back up into mouth, sometime even unintentionally, without nausea or gagging, and it’s re-chewed and swallowed or spat out.
“The disorder may cause malnutrition if the food is spat out,” cautions Dr Anand.
RISK FACTORS AND SEEKING HELP
As with other mental illnesses, ED is caused by genetics and biology as well as psychological and emotional health. While some may have genes that increase their risk of developing eating problems, biological factors such as changes in brain chemicals may also cause EDs. Additionally, those with low self-esteem, perfectionism, impulsive behaviour and troubled relationships tend to have ED.
Anorexia or bulimia, likelier among teenage girls and young women than teenage boys and young men, often develops in teens and early 20s.
Factors increasing the risk include family history; a history of anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsiveness.
Behavioural indicators of EDs
Excessive focus on healthy eating
Skipping meals; making excuses for not eating
Adopting restrictive vegetarian diets
Making one’s own meals rather than eating with family
Withdrawing from social activities
Persistent complaints about being fat
Frequent checking in the mirror for flaws in body shape
Eating large amounts of sweets or high-fat food
Use of dietary supplements, laxatives or herbal products for losing weight
Intense exercising
Calluses on knuckles from inducing vomiting
Loss of tooth enamel from repeated vomiting
Leaving during meals for using the toilet
Eating more snack or food at once than is normal
Expressing depression, disgust or guilt about eating habits
Eating secretly
Complications from EDs
The more severe or long the eating disorder, the likelier for one to experience serious complications, such as the following:
Menstrual periods cease
Osteopenia or osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) through calcium loss
Hair/nails become brittle
Skin dries and can take on a yellowish cast
Mild or severe anaemia; and muscles, including the heart muscle, waste away
Severe constipation
Drop in blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse rates
Internal body temperature falls, causing one to feel cold all the time
Depression and suicidal thoughts
Problems with growth
Relationship problems
Substance use disorders
Work/school issues
Death
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
Some strategies to help your children develop healthy eating behaviours:
Avoid dieting in front of them.
Talk to them about the risks of unhealthy eating choices.
Cultivate and reinforce a healthy body image for yourself and others; avoid criticising your own body in front of your children.
