Nourishing Mind & Body: A Holistic Approach to Eating Disorder Recovery

Eating disorders – their symptoms, causes, and their link to mental health – are often underestimated, overlooked, and misunderstood. Sadly, but not surprisingly, individuals with eating disorders are judged and their behaviors are reduced to mere vanity or picky eating habits, while the underlying psychological issues are usually ignored.

To bring this issue to light, National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is observed annually. This year, from February 24, 2025 to March 2, 2025, let’s dedicate our time to spread awareness about these mental illnesses as they are serious conditions with moderate to severe physical and psychological complications, especially if left untreated.

What are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits that have a significant impact on an individual’s physical and emotional health. Some common types include:

1. Anorexia Nervosa: An intense fear of gaining weight, leading to severe calorie restriction and often excessive exercise. But take note, we can’t always assume that all underweight people are living with an eating disorder because there are times that people who have anorexia maintain normal weight and look overweight as well. It’s important to remember that weight is not always indicative of eating disorders.

The main two subtypes of anorexia nervosa are:

• Restricting type:?In this type, weight loss is mainly due to calorie restriction, fasting, and/or increased physical activity.
• Binge-eating/purging type:?These patients may have episodes of binge eating, which are followed by purging behaviors, such as vomiting, laxative abuse, diuretic abuse, excessive exercise, or fasting.

2. Bulimia Nervosa: Cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging (vomiting, laxative use), excessive exercise, or fasting. That means that individuals with bulimia nervosa experience recurrent episodes of binge eating and these episodes involve consuming a significantly large amount of food within a short period, often feeling out of control and unable to stop despite feeling uncomfortably full.

Binges typically involve foods the individual would normally restrict, creating a sense of guilt and distress. To counteract the perceived consequences of binge eating, individuals with bulimia engage in compensatory behaviors known as “purging.”

Common purging methods include:

• Self-induced vomiting:?Forcing oneself to vomit.
• Laxative abuse:?Misusing laxatives to expel food.
• Diuretic abuse:?Misusing diuretics to remove fluids from the body.
• Enema use:?Using enemas to cleanse the bowels.
• Excessive exercise:?Engaging in excessive physical activity to burn calories.
• Fasting:?Abstaining from food for extended periods.

The symptoms of bulimia can often mimic those of anorexia nervosa, particularly the binge-eating/purging subtype.

3. Binge Eating Disorder:?Binge Eating Disorder or BED is characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food within a short timeframe. These episodes are often marked by:

• Rapid consumption: Eating quickly and excessively.
• Secrecy: Eating alone or in secret.
• Discomfort: Continuing to eat beyond feeling full, often to the point of physical discomfort.
• Lack of hunger: Engaging in binge eating even when not physically hungry.
• Emotional distress: Experiencing negative emotions such as shame, guilt, or disgust related to the binge eating behavior.

While sharing some similarities with bulimia and the binge-eating subtype of anorexia (e.g., large amounts of food consumed in short periods, a sense of loss of control), BED differs significantly. Unlike these conditions, individuals with BED do not engage in compensatory behaviors such as purging (vomiting, laxative abuse, excessive exercise) or extreme calorie restriction following a binge episode.

Individuals with BED may exhibit a higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (e.g., fast food, packaged snacks, sugary drinks). This dietary pattern can increase the risk of various health complications, including:

• Cardiovascular diseases like heart disease and stroke.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Metabolic syndrome.
• Obesity-related health issues.

4. Rumination Syndrome: It is a condition where an individual repeatedly regurgitates recently consumed food back into their mouth. They may then re-chew the food and either swallow it again or spit it out. This typically occurs within 30 minutes of eating.

In infants,?rumination disorder often appears between 3 and 12 months of age and usually resolves spontaneously. For children and adults,?therapy can effectively address this condition.

Untreated rumination disorder in infants can lead to significant weight loss, severe malnutrition, and even death. Adults with this disorder may experience anxiety around eating, particularly in social settings, often leading to restricted food intake.

It is important to note that while classified as an eating disorder, the core issue in rumination syndrome lies more in a dysfunction of the digestive system rather than the psychological factors that drive most other eating disorders.

5. Pica:?It is an eating disorder characterized by the persistent consumption of non-food substances for at least one month.

• Persistent ingestion:?Individuals with pica consistently eat items that are not considered food, such as:
• Developmentally inappropriate:?This behavior is not typical for the individual’s age or developmental stage.
• Not culturally sanctioned:?The consumption of these substances is not part of a recognized cultural or religious practice.

Take note that?it’s common for young children to explore the world by putting objects in their mouths. This is generally not considered pica unless the behavior persists and is not age-appropriate.

Pica can have serious health consequences:

• Lead poisoning:?Ingesting paint chips containing lead can cause severe health problems.
• Intestinal blockages:?Swallowing non-food items can obstruct the digestive system.
• Nutritional deficiencies:?Pica can interfere with the intake of essential nutrients.
• Infections:?Consuming contaminated substances can lead to infections.

The Impact of Eating Disorders

Unlike how society perceives the implications of eating disorders or abnormal eating habits, they affect millions of individuals worldwide in reality, regardless of age, gender, or background. Aside from that, they can lead to severe physical health complications such as heart issues, gastrointestinal problems, and malnutrition.

While we now understand that these eating concerns are often associated with psychological issues, they can also co-occur with other mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Breaking the Stigma

Despite their prevalence, eating disorders are still surrounded by stigma and misinformation. Many people believe these eating issues are a choice or a phase when, in reality, they are serious medical conditions that require professional and early intervention. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week serves as a crucial reminder that education and empathy can help break down these misconceptions. But how can you help as an ordinary individual?

How You Can Help

• Educate Yourself and Others: Understanding the complexities of eating disorders can help dismantle harmful stereotypes.
• Encourage Open Conversations:?Foster a supportive environment where individuals feel safe discussing their struggles.
• Promote Positive Body Image: Avoid commenting on weight and appearance and instead celebrate non-physical attributes.
• Support Access to Treatment:?Encourage those struggling to seek professional help from mental health specialists, dietitians, or support groups.
• Share Resources:?Organizations like the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) provide valuable support and information.

Seeking Help

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, it’s essential to seek professional help. Recovery is possible with the right support, including therapy, medical care, and community resources.

Johnson Behavioral Health Group?is dedicated to providing personalized mental health treatment, including support for individuals facing eating disorders. Our team of compassionate professionals offers medication management and psychiatric evaluations to help patients regain control of their lives. We understand that eating disorders require a holistic approach, and we are here to support individuals on their journey to recovery.

This National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, let’s commit to fostering understanding, compassion, and advocacy for those affected by eating disorders. By educating ourselves and supporting one another, we can create a world where no one has to suffer in silence. If you or a loved one needs help, reach out to Johnson Behavioral Health Group—we are here to guide you toward healing and hope.

This blog originally appeared on Johnson Behavioral Health Group.

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