What is an eating disorder?

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a complex and chronic illness.  Nothing ever happens in a fraction of a second. It takes a rather a long time to develop an eating disorder like Bulimia or anorexia.  It takes an even longer time for its treatment to be successful.

To be very precise an eating disorder is an abnormal and extremely unhealthy eating pattern, which is harmful to a person's normal physical well being. Eating too much, and not eating enough can both be involved in this disorder.  Purging or bingeing after eating is also termed an eating disorder. 

Eating disorders are usually found in females rather than males, (though evidence shows males are now tending to succumb more nowadays). It is usually more prevalent in the age group of fifteen to twenty five. Being slim and young is what most female's dream of and this in turn results in the development of life threatening disorders. 

Adolescents need a balanced diet. The nutritional requirements are very high, in adolescence, due to their accelerated physical, biochemical and emotional development. The final growth spurt occurs in this period. The demand for energy, protein, minerals and vitamins also increases. So when the requirements are very high any deficiency in nutritional intake will cause problems which will follow them for rest of their lives

The causes of eating disorder are numerous, but the main cause is thought to be psychological factors.  These are related to abnormal obsessions with the amount of food eaten by the sufferer and their subsequent gain in weight. The subsequent alteration in the person's eating pattern can be controlled by voluntary appetite control.

The major eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, hyperphagia, orthorexia, pica, food phobia, and rumination.  

The amount and the pattern of eating depends on many factors such as peer pressure, food availability, ethics in families, their own appetite, imitating role models, concerns about gaining weight, and psychological factors. The major eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, hyperphagia, orthorexia, pica, food phobia, and rumination often start as a mild complication and lead to serious heart and kidney failure and ultimately can lead to death. 

Eating disorders may also lead to the following problems:

electrolyte imbalance, amanorrhoea, thinning of hair, functioning of the heart decreases, dental caries, hypothermia, bone mass decreases, liver function is altered, ulcers in oesophagus, reduced immunity in the body and low blood pressure.

Identifying an eating disorder is as important as its treatment. They are easily treatable if the patient is willing to undergo the treatment. Psychiatric treatment followed by behavioral modification, nutritional counseling and medical treatment should always form the start of the treatment.

Some of the famous personalities in recent times and in the past who are thought to suffer from these eating disorders are 

Marie Osmond, Princess Diana, Princess Victoria, Mary-Kate Olsen, Victoria Beckham, Emma Balfour, Fiona Apple, Eliza Donovan, Jessica Alba, Kate Dillon, Roseanne Barr, Tracy Shaw,  Karen Carpenter, and Marie Osmond.

To avoid all these problems, always eat healthy, have a regular exercise pattern and be cheerful.