An eating disorder is a mental health condition where someone is unable to control how they perceive and interact with food.
Oftentimes, people may overindulge in food, or not eat enough, because they are coping with other issues such as anxiety, depression, self-loathing, self-consciousness, and much more.
Eating disorders are stigmatised in society, however, they are serious mental illnesses which require proper treatment.
Eating disorders affect many facets of their victim’s lives in both physical and mental ways.
Suffering from an eating disorder can lead to many complications [1] such as malnutrition, anxiety, depression, and more.
While these symptoms are harmful in themselves, they can lead to serious long-term health complications.
Sadly, eating disorders are far more common than people might assume.
Some people may also be suffering from a form of eating disorder without even realising it.
The stigmatisation of eating disorders exists because people are unaware of how they work.
Additionally, the people who are fortunate enough not to suffer from an eating disorder may think that it is simply a choice, a lack of discipline, or a lifestyle.
However, it is a serious condition.
Someone who is suffering from an eating disorder may suffer from social discrimination and shame due to their actions or behaviour.
Furthermore, symptoms of eating disorders can be apparent, which will make people feel self-conscious and discriminated against on first sight.
The median age of someone suffering from an eating disorder is 21 years of age, [2] and females are more likely to suffer from a condition of this type.
This is likely due to a number of factors, such as intense social media use, worrying about appearance, genetics, and more.
Statistics show that binge eating-related hospital admissions have increased by 84% from 2017 to 2022. [3]
Unhealthy eating patterns can come in many different forms and can range from the most severe forms of overeating and undereating.
Eating disorders can also affect how someone perceives reality, such as their weight, appearance and other factors.
Anyone can suffer from an eating disorder, however, younger demographics are more likely to suffer due to issues related to self-image, especially in the age of social media.
Some of the most common forms of eating disorders include:
Anorexia nervosa, [4] commonly referred to as anorexia, is an eating disorder where the subject has an intense fear of gaining weight.
This is often rooted in a warped sense of reality, as some people who are severely underweight may think they are severely overweight.
There are different forms of anorexia. It can manifest in the form of extreme dieting and calorie restriction.
Bulimia can also lead to anorexia, where an individual frequently induces vomiting or otherwise “purges” in order to limit their calorie intake.
Anorexia is common among people who are suffering from chronic stress, anxiety or depression.
Some believe that extreme dieting can bring people a sense of autonomy over someone’s life, making them feel more in control.
However, their obsession with their eating habits dictates many aspects of their life, such as what they can eat, who they can eat and socialise with, where they can eat and so on.
In the age of social media and an obsession with self-image, younger people are far more likely to suffer from anorexia in an attempt to make themselves look more acceptable or pleasant to other people.
While anorexia is a form of extreme calorie restriction, bulimia nervosa [5] – or bulimia – is characterised by events of uncontrolled eating followed by a form of “purging”.
The subject will eat extreme quantities of food because they are unable to control their portions.
Instead of restricting their food intake, the subject will resort to “purging” or throwing up the food they’ve already consumed in an attempt to maintain weight.
The subject will often purge by using their own fingers to stick down their throat, triggering their gag reflexes.
The purpose of this is to enjoy and indulge in the food which they are so compelled to eat, but to throw up in order to negate the calories in which they have already consumed.
Laxatives are another common method for some people suffering from bulimia.
However, while the user may think that laxatives help them maintain or lose weight, it will actually rid the body of valuable nutrients, electrolytes, water and other things that are essential for survival.
This can leave them malnourished and in an intense state of dehydration.
Since the subject is not actually gaining much weight despite the large quantities of food that they consume, this allows them to maintain a consistent size, and thus hide their condition.
People who suffer from bulimia think it is a solution to their uncontrollable eating habits.
However, there are long-term adverse health effects associated with bulimia.
Binge Eating Disorder [6] is when a subject is unable to control their eating habits, and consumes extremely high quantities of food.
What separates this from bulimia is that these subjects do not “purge” by throwing up or consuming laxatives afterwards.
Asking the question “Which is more dangerous, anorexia or bulimia?” is complicated because each case is different and the level of severity will vary according to several factors.
There are many short-term and long-term adverse health effects of anorexia and bulimia.
Anorexia can lead to a range of serious short-term and long-term health conditions.
Here are some of the adverse health effects of anorexia:
While some people may see bulimia as a rather simple answer to an overeating problem, it can lead to a wide range of harmful health effects.
Some of the dangers and effects of bulimia include but are not limited to:
Anyone is susceptible to developing an eating disorder based on a number of factors.
Each case is different, and there are a number of variables and combinations of factors which will lead to someone developing an eating disorder.
Some of the most significant causing factors include but are not limited to:
Anorexia is often caused by the fear of gaining weight. People who suffer from anorexia also often suffer from body dysmorphia.
Body dysmorphia is a mental health condition where the subject’s perception of their physical appearance is warped.
They may see flaws in themselves which others may not, and may interpret themselves as being overweight when in fact they are severely underweight.
While that is a common cause, it can also be attributed to genetic factors.
If someone in the family has suffered from physical or mental illnesses related to weight problems, it is possible to inherit these traits.
Other sports and activities which are heavily associated with eating disorders such as anorexia include:
Sports and competitions related to bodybuilding or combat sports often require some form of a “weight cut” in order to be eligible to compete or win.
This can put a lot of young people – especially young males – at risk of developing an eating disorder in the long term.
Frequently cutting weight and putting your body in a state of extreme calorie deficit – and having to manipulate how your body looks or feels due to external factors – can lead to a range of eating disorders in the future, whether in the form of extreme dieting or overeating.
Activities and sports popular with young women and often associated with spectacular appearances – such as dancing, ballet, cheerleading, or modelling – can have a harmful effect on the participant’s mental health.
Many of these activities and sports rely on participants being agile and light, not only for practical reasons but sometimes for appearances.
Many of these sports maintain a level of beauty standards which can create a toxic environment and coerces them into developing eating disorders and diminishing one’s mental and physical health.
Binge eating disorders and bulimia stem from the inability to control how much one eats.
People suffering from bulimia turn towards purging to cope with their overeating habits.
Similar to anorexia, purging is a way to minimise weight gain.
People who are suffering from anxiety and stress often turn towards food in order to cope with their negative feelings.
This is often known as “stress eating” or “emotional eating, [19]” and is defined by eating in response to not only negative feelings but also positive feelings, and not responding to the physical need for feeding.
There are many signs to look out for if you are concerned about your eating habits.
Performing some of these habits doesn’t necessarily mean that you are suffering from an eating disorder, however, doing them excessively or intensely may indicate that you are suffering from an eating disorder.
Some signs and symptoms [20] of eating disorders include but are not limited to:
Screening for and diagnosing eating disorders can be difficult.
However, if you think you may be suffering from an eating disorder, you should seek consultation with a licensed professional in order to understand the severity of your condition.
Your doctor or counsellor will need to assess your physical and mental health in order to determine whether you’re suffering from an eating disorder.
They will likely take a physical exam, which will consist of taking your weight, body mass index, history of weight fluctuations, and more.
They will also want to know about your exercise and eating habits.
They may also need to conduct a mental health assessment to see if you are suffering from any other conditions such as anxiety disorder, depression, and so on.
Seeking professional help is important because trying to determine whether you have an eating disorder using your own tools will provide an inaccurate assessment.
Some BMI (Body Mass Index) tools may lack depth, not taking into account muscle mass, bone mass and so on, and some people may be reluctant to accept that they are suffering from an eating disorder.
You may be admitted to entering rehab as an outpatient or an inpatient depending on the severity of your eating disorder.
Once you are at rehab for treatment, you will receive thorough support from health professionals, nutritionists and licensed counsellors who will optimise your recovery and help you establish a healthy, sustainable, lifestyle.
Those who are suffering from a mild form of eating disorders will be able to undergo treatment as an outpatient.
Here, they have much more flexibility than inpatients, however, the risk of relapsing or reverting back to old habits is higher.
Patients suffering from moderate to severe forms of eating disorders will be encouraged to undergo treatment as an inpatient.
Here, they will have access to medically supported facilities, 24/7 supervision from health professionals and much more.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, we can help patients find the right treatment for a range of eating disorders, such as:
Treatment programmes will vary not only from one disorder to the next, but from one patient to another.
Personalisation is a significant component when constructing an optimal recovery programme for patients.
Because there are so many variables to consider when it comes to the cause and severity of the disorder, and also personal history, it’s important to cater to the unique requirements of each patient.
However, while each treatment programme should be personalised and uniquely tailored, patients can expect to undergo therapy treatments such as:
After completing treatment at rehab, patients will continue to receive support in the form of an aftercare programme.
While completing treatment means that the patient has the ability to sustain a healthy lifestyle with independence, they will still need support while they ease back into a more independent lifestyle.
Here, patients will continue to undergo recovery on a far less intensive scale during their post-rehab life. Patients will still benefit from counselling sessions, support sessions, access to fellowship groups and more.
Contact Rehab 4 Addiction today by dialling the number 0800 140 4690.
When you call us, you’ll come into contact with a friendly and experienced member of the team at Rehab 4 Addiction.
Your recovery is at the forefront of our priorities, and we will be at your disposal to assist you with your personal recovery journey.
Whether you want to simply ask questions about your condition, discuss treatment options, or if you are ready to enter treatment as soon as you can, we will cater to your unique needs.
[1] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders
[2] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders
[4] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa
[5] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa
[6] https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/binge-eating/overview/
[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9650756/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7967486/
[10] https://eating-disorders.org.uk/information/the-effects-of-under-eating/
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8429328/
[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267322/
[13] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9647901/
[14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4392812/
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6802370/
[16] https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/02/26/how-eating-disorders-can-damage-the-heart
[17] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9942359/
[18] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3010958/
[19] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9573278/
[20] https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/eating-disorders/overview/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
