Eating disorders affect millions of people, yet they remain stigmatized and misunderstood. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Feb. 24-March 2) is a valuable opportunity to shed light on the complexities of these conditions and encourage those struggling to seek help.
Types of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders manifest in different ways, but they all involve an unhealthy relationship with food, body image and self-worth – often with deeply rooted emotional, psychological and societal influences.
Anorexia Nervosa
Characteristics of anorexia include extreme food restriction, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. Women with anorexia may engage in excessive exercise, calorie counting and other behaviors to maintain a dangerously low weight.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia involves cycles of binge eating followed by purging behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise or laxative use. Many people with bulimia feel trapped in a cycle of guilt and shame, struggling to control their eating habits.
Binge Eating Disorder
Unlike bulimia, binge eating disorder does not involve purging, but it includes frequent episodes of consuming large amounts of food in a short period. Those with BED often feel out of control during binges and experience extreme emotional distress afterward.
Orthorexia
Though not formally classified as an eating disorder, orthorexia is an obsession with eating “clean” or “healthy” foods – sometimes to the point of malnutrition and social isolation. Women with orthorexia may become fixated on food purity, avoiding entire food groups and feeling extreme guilt if they deviate from their strict rules.
Why Do People Develop Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are complex conditions that develop due to a combination of psychological, biological and environmental factors.
- Low self-esteem: Many women with eating disorders struggle with feelings of inadequacy and use food to regain control.
- Perfectionism: An intense fear of failure can contribute to rigid eating behaviors.
- Trauma and PTSD: A history of physical, emotional or sexual abuse may increase your likelihood of developing disordered eating patterns.
- Anxiety and depression: Many women with eating disorders also struggle with mood disorders, which can drive unhealthy coping mechanisms. You may be at a higher risk if you have a family history of eating disorders or mental health challenges.
- Unrealistic beauty standards: Media and social media portrayals of “ideal” bodies can create pressure to conform to unattainable expectations.
The Link Between Eating Disorders and Other Mental Health Issues
Eating disorders rarely occur in isolation. They often co-exist with other mental and behavioral health conditions.
- Substance abuse: Many women struggling with eating disorders also battle addiction, using drugs or alcohol to suppress their appetite, manage emotions or numb pain.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder: The rigid rules and rituals seen in eating disorders often mirror those found in OCD.
- Borderline personality disorder: Impulsivity and emotional dysregulation can lead to disordered eating patterns.
- Self-harm: Some women use self-harm as a coping mechanism alongside restrictive eating, binging or purging behaviors.
Warning Signs of Eating Disorders
Recognizing the warning signs of an eating disorder can help you or a loved one get treatment sooner.
- Preoccupation with food, calories, dieting or body weight
- Avoiding meals or making excuses not to eat
- Frequent trips to the bathroom after eating (a sign of purging)
- Hoarding food or eating secretly
- Compulsive exercise or excessive concern about burning calories
- Extreme guilt or shame after eating
- Anxiety or depression linked to food and body image
- Withdrawal from social activities or isolation
- Irritability and mood swings
- Noticeable weight fluctuations
- Fatigue, dizziness or fainting
- Thinning hair, dry skin or brittle nails
- Gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, constipation or acid reflux
- Menstrual irregularities or loss of periods
Healing From Eating Disorders at Rising Roads Recovery
Eating disorders are serious but treatable. Rising Roads Recovery offers compassionate, trauma-informed care to help women rebuild a healthy relationship with food and themselves. We designed our Food & Mood program for women who self-soothe through eating or restrictive dieting.
This National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, let’s break the silence around disordered eating and encourage healing. Contact us today to learn how we can help you grow and thrive.
