Help for Recovery
Eating Disorders
What is an Eating Disorder?
An eating disorder is a serious behavioral condition that can severely impact a person, both mentaly and physically. Most eating disorders are characterised by disturbances in behaviors, thoughts and attitudes toward food, eating, and body image, weight or shape. In the most severe cases, an eating disorder can even be fatal to the person suffering from it.
Eating disorders do not discriminate and can occur in people of any age, weight, size, shape, gender identity, sexuality, cultural background or socioeconomic group. Some people mistakenly think that eating disorders are the result of “lifestyle choices” but they are, in fact, a type of mental illness.
An eating disorder can affect an individual’s psychological, physical and social functioning. While eating disorders are most typically developed during adolescence and early adulthood, a person can develop an eating disorder at any age or stage of life. Some of the most widely known eating disorders include but are not limited to; bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and Pica.
How many Eating Disorders are there?
Some of the most commonly known eating disorders are:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Binge eating disorder
- Pica
- Rumination disorder
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
In addition to the six eating disorders mentioned above, some less commonly known but prevalent eating disorders include:
- Purging disorder
- Night eating syndrome
There are other eating disorders that do not fit the criteria of the disorders listed above. Such eating disorders are broadly diagnosed as Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) which refers to conditions not found within the DSM-5. This term encompasses any other conditions that may have similar or interchangeable symptoms to those of a known eating disorder, but that does not meet all of the parameters of the conditions mentioned above
What causes Eating Disorders?
The exact cause of eating disorders is still currently unknown. Some mental health professionals believe that it is a combination of various physical, social, genetic and psychological factors which cause a person to develop an eating disorder.
Some of the most understood and most commonly known causes are:
- Personality
- Chemical imbalance
- Social pressures from the media, social media
- Health problems
- A history of dieting
- Chronic dissatisfaction with your body image
- Home environment
- Genetics
What are the symptoms of an Eating Disorder?
A variety of signs and symptoms characterizes eating disorders, and although symptoms may vary with each disorder and amongst individuals, we have put together a list of the most common ones.
- Obsessive thoughts about losing or gaining weight quickly
- Obsessive thoughts with physical appearance and body image
- Strange behaviour around food
- Unusually low or high body weight
- An irregular diet; eating very little or overeating food.
- Eating alone or secretly
- Feeling guilty or ashamed with regards to food and food consumption
- Binging and/or purging
- Frequent bathroom use
Where should I go if I think I have an eating disorder?
If you or a loved one feels they might be suffering from an eating disorder, we encourage you to seek help at Stedfast Psychiatry. There is hope, and you are not alone; treatments such as psychological therapy (psychotherapy), nutrition education, medication and medical monitoring can help.
A treatment team for eating disorders may include:
- A psychiatrist or a psychologist depending on if you need medication or not.
- A registered dietitian who can provide nutritional tips and education to help you.
- Medical or dental specialists: these professionals can address and treat the physical effects that eating disorders can cause.
- People you trust closest to you, such as your parents, partner, family and friends. They can help support your recovery.
The providers at Stedfast Psychiatry of the Palm Beaches can help you to identify and treat an eating disorder. We encourage you to contact us for an appointment so we can help you to live your best life. We serve patients from Boynton Beach FL, Palm Beach Gardens FL, Jupiter FL, West Palm Beach FL, Riviera Beach FL, Century Village FL, Lake Park FL, and North Palm Beach FL.