Eating Disorder, Causes, Kinds And Ways To Manage Them

Do you have an abnormal relationship with food? Studies have shown that an eating disorder is not just about food but a complexity of mind that require professional help.

It’s a psychological condition that makes you obsessed with your food intake, body, and weight. In certain cases, it can even lead to fatality if ignored!

Anyone can be a victim of an eating disorder, but we find more adolescents and young women being succumbed to it. It is said that 13% of youth may experience eating disorder by the time they turn 20.

What Are The Causes Of An Eating Disorder?

Studies suggests that genetics could be a rare factor that contribute to an eating disorder.

Other factors could be personality traits such as perfectionism can eventually lead to an eating disorder.

Another important factor that needs to be addressed is your daily exposure to media that fills your minds with culture preferences or pressure to look a certain way can affect your daily food intake.

The way your brain works (levels of dopamine and serotonin) or biology can play a role in developing an eating disorder

What Are The Kinds Of Eating Disorders?

1) Anorexia Nervosa

In such cases, people tend to restrict their diet no matter how underweight they are because they consider themselves as obese or overweight. There’s also an extreme fear of gaining weight followed by a tendency to restrict calorie intake to the maximum.

2) Bulimia Nervosa

People with bulimia literally lack self-control and have the urge to eat massively over a specific period at the same time use purging behaviours like forced vomiting to restrict calorie intake. This kind is followed by several side effects such as dehydration, swollen salivary glands, acid reflux, etc. In severe cases it can cause electrolyte imbalance too

3) Binge Eating Disorder

This type unlike bulimia, the person does not indulge in any purging behaviours. Instead they eat excessively over a short period and take it as it comes. Such people are mostly dwelling on negative emotions such as guilt, sadness, fear, etc that paved way for their eating disorder. Obesity is the first and the most dangerous symptom to strike which is generally followed by further medical complications.

There are several others but we have covered the main ones.

How To Build A Healthy And Positive Relationship With Food And Overcome Your Eating Disorder?

1) Stop With Fad Diets

Sometimes certain diets can be unhealthy when you’re having an eating disorder. The more you restrict yourself from food, the higher your chances of binge eating.

Instead, switch to whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains and keep your sugar or dessert intake in check.

2) Eat At Specific Times And Don’t Skip

Manage your meal timings and keep them constant. Unhealthy food habits can get you craving for more at oddly hours despite feeling full or you may want to skip meals occasionally. One large meal can spike your blood sugar levels and hunger hormone called ghrelin to a larger extend. Instead, adhere to a three small meal plan and stick to it!

3) Mindfulness Is The Key

Listen to your body, understand it’s needs and be aware of your feelings at the moment. Studies suggests that once you practice mindfulness, you will become fully aware of your hunger pangs, improve your eating behaviour and reduce your tendency to binge eat from time to time.

4) Drink Loads Of Water

Sometimes our body tends to misunderstand thirst over hunger and a few glasses of water should make you aware if you’re hungry or not. In addition to this, water makes you feel full, boosts metabolism, flushes out toxins and aids in weight loss.
Like they say, few glasses of water hurt nobody!

5) Exercise Regularly

Many studies have proven that certain breathing exercises such as yoga and meditation not only helps to keep your body and mind in check but reduces stress, depression, anxiety and various other factors that contribute towards your eating disorder. So don’t you think it’s high time you make exercise a part of your daily routine?

6) Include More Fibre And Grains In Your Diet

Fibre rich foods are known to keep you full as it slows down digestion and reduces your appetite for a few hours. Eat more fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains when you feel hungry to curb your cravings.

7) Go “Mary Kondo” On Your Kitchen

If you’ve watched the show on Netflix, you know it’s a necessity to declutter those binge worthy treats in your kitchen.
Clear out anything and everything that wouldn’t do well on your body in the long run! Instead stock up those fruits, veggies and protein rich foods. Healthy alternatives are always better than junk foods that provide you with temporary happiness.

8) Sleep Well

Your sleep cycle plays a major role in maintaining your hunger pangs and if you aren’t getting proper sleep, chances are that you will land up binge eating the morning after. Proper sleep lowers leptin hormone levels that is responsible for promoting fullness. Sleep also has a direct influence on your body weight. So next time, try to incorporate those 8 hours of relaxation to reduce any tendencies of binge eating.

9) Keep A Food Journal Or Tracker On Your Phone

Several apps are available that will help keep your body in check and you will learn about what you are consuming on a regular basis.
It is important to know what you eat and food journals will help you identify your potential problems and in return you will be able to progress towards working on your healthy eating goals.

10) Talk To A Friend

They say, a good social circle can help with taking your mind off things. So pick up that phone and connect with someone you can address your eating disorder to and who will stop you from indulging in anything unhealthy. Don’t have a friend to talk to? Skip to the next point…..

11) Talk To A Therapist

 It’s good if you feel better with the above-mentioned tips, but if you need professional help please reach out to the CareMe Health team! We have  a  brilliant  team  of  licensed  professionals who are highly  qualified  clinical  psychologists  and psychiatrists, to help you deal with issues pertaining to eating disorders!

Book your first session now!

This blog is written under the expert guidance and feedback from Ms. Pooja Varma, Counselling Psychologist at CareMe Health.

Edited and Coordinated by Arathi Nair

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