Eating Disorders: The Diary Of Food Obsession
When people hear the phrase “eating disorders,” a majority would immediately associate with binge eating, or overeating. But overeating is simply an aspect of the bigger problem. Indeed, there are lots of eating disorders that afflicts many individuals. The medical science community have identified the most common disorders, which are listed below:
1. Bulimia Nervosa
More prevalent among young women than in males bulimia nervosa involves an intense craving for food where the patient eats more food than the body really requires. But after the person gets her fill, she feels guilty and forces out the food through vomiting, self-administration of enemas or laxatives, or even starving herself. The result is a continuing cycle of renewed hunger and starvation, which impacts the body’s digestive system.
2. Anorexia Nervosa
This is a very serious and potentially deadly eating disorder. The patient forces herself not to eat food from fear of gaining extra weight or becoming obese even though she is way below her normal weight. She often avoids taking in adequate food and is obsessed with exercising to stay fit. Lacking nutrients, the patient’s body slowly dies out. Anorexia nervosa affects more females than males.
3. Binge Eating
Very common in Western countries, binge eating disorder (BED) is about devouring more than needed. People usually overeat as an escape from the pains of stress, anxiety, depression, frustrations, unhappiness, and other hurtful feelings.
4. Orthorexia Nervosa
Rarer than the above mentioned eating disorders, orthorexia nervosa is the irrational impulse to eat only the “proper” food at the “proper” amount. Eating healthy food is great, but obsession to only take in what is considered healthy and not eating anything else is not. In fact, specialists said that it is even helpful to reward yourself with an ice cream, cake, french fries once in a while.
What’s more, the treatment is not easy. People afflicted with orthorexia consider medicines as impure or unnatural and will not take them.
For more information about eating disorders and ways to treat them, visit Charter Day Care or check out their website.
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