Eating Disorders

The definition of an eating disorder is the overconsumption or under consumption of food in extreme fashion. Eating disorders are very common, especially in young women and are often the cause of serious physical and psychological health issues. Oftentimes people with eating disorders will have started eating less or more in moderation and a certain event or course of events causes the irregularity to become extreme. The sufferer then loses control and an eating disorder will often manifests itself.

Most eating disorders are developed in adolescence or when a person is in their younger adult years. It is possible however to develop an eating disorder at younger or older ages.

Women account for the vast majority of people with eating disorders. Much like other psychological issues, eating disorders can result in secondary psychiatric or biological disorders including substance abuse, depression or anxiety. Eating disorders can also cause various health issues including heart, kidney and liver problems that can cause serious damage to the body and eventually even death.

The main manifestations of eating disorders include anorexia, which is the need for being thin even when the sufferer’s body weight is well below what would be considered normal. This eating disorder is characterized by a feeling of fear of gaining weight or the inability to accurately view their own body image. It is characterized by excessive dieting or exercise but can also be manifested in the use of laxatives and enemas.

Bulimia is manifested when a person eats extreme amounts of food and then feels a sense of having overeaten. To compensate for the extreme eating they may use laxatives or enemas or induce vomiting as well as under eating or over exercising in order to compensate for their food consumption. Bulimic people are often at proper weight, however like anorexics feel an extreme sense of anxiety about gaining weight.

Binge eating is also an eating disorder that affects a great number of people.

Binge eating occurs when the sufferer cannot control the amount of food they eat and often leads to overweight or obesity. Binge eaters, unlike bulimics, do not purge the food that they eat afterwards and as a result may suffer from many of the diseases associated with obesity and extra weight.

In all three of the above cases, psychological disorders are behind the eating habits that compulsive eaters experience. In all three cases one of the results of the psychological disorders can be substance abuse. In these cases it is very important that the sufferer seek specialized dual diagnosis treatment from a licensed facility like Destination Hope. A trained counselor can not only determine the root cause of compulsive eating, but can also treat the addiction that may be the result of the eating disorder.

It is very difficult for a person with an eating disorder to accept that they do indeed have a problem, however that is the first step to treatment. Family and friends who care about the sufferer can encourage them to speak to one of our admissions counselors. Taking that first step and speaking to somebody with real world knowledge of the treatment options available to those with eating disorders is a wonderful first step in understanding the problem at hand and realizing that the treatment for it is not does not have to be a painful one. For more information on eating disorders, their effect on substance abuse, and dual diagnosis treatment at Destination Hope please give us a call at 1-866-808-7111 and we will be more than happy to speak to you or your loved one about their disorder.