The Effects of Binge Eating and Bulimia on Mental Health & Wellbeing
An estimated 20 million women and 10 million men struggle with disordered eating at some time in their lives. Though there are a few different types of eating disorders, they all have in common a dysfunctional obsession with weight, food, and body image.
Common eating disorders include:
Anorexia Nervosa – this entails a distorted body image, small or controlled portions when eating, skipping meals, and low body weight. People with this disorder have lose weight, become underweight, and may exercise excessively. This eating disorder has the highest mortality rate.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) – this is defined by frequently consuming large amounts of food to the point of discomfort. While binging, the person may not feel like they have control over how much they are eating.
Bulimia Nervosa – is characterized by binging on large quantities of food and then forcing oneself to expel the food from the body. This forced expulsion of food, commonly done by induced vomiting or laxatives, is called purging.
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – this is comprised of either avoiding or restricting one’s consumption of certain foods or food groups. People with this illness usually are malnourished and underweight. This disorder can also present in children, in whom it adversely impacts growth.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) – this is characterized by disordered eating, but does not fit into any of the above disorders.
In this article, we will focus on bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.
What is Binge Eating Disorder and How Does it Differ from Other Eating Disorders?
Binge eating disorder is one of the types of eating disorders which involves binge eating. While bingeing, a person may feel like they do not have control over what they are doing. It is accompanied by intense feelings of shame, guilt, and disgust with oneself. As BED results in weight gain, most people who suffer from it are overweight.
BED is different from bulimia. While both eating disorders involve bingeing, those with BED do not purge.
Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder
Signs and Symptoms of BED include:
Weight gain
Secretive eating habits, eating in secret
Large amounts of food are missing
Discarded food wrappers or packaging found in various places around the house
Distorted body image
Low self-esteem and self-worth
Depression
Anxiety
Eating when not hungry or already full
What is Bulimia Nervosa?
Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder that also involves binge eating. However, it is different from BED in that it is marked by forced purging of food. The bingeing and purging becomes a cycle that is detrimental to both mental and physical health. People who are affected by this disorder may also restrict their food intake. This restriction can lead to increased bingeing and purging.
Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa
Signs and symptoms include:
Depression
Anxiety
Bingeing on large quantities of food in a short time
Purging the food either through induced vomiting or use of laxatives
Oral and dental issues caused by repeated vomiting
Feelings of shame and guilt
Distorted body image
Over-exercising
Lack of control when bingeing
Withdrawal, self-isolation
Other Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
Someone suffering from an eating disorder may be secretive about their eating habits. They find excuses to be late to meals, miss meals, or often leave the table during the meal. They can have a preoccupation with they way they look, their weight, and how many calories they are taking in. They may pinch and pull at themselves in front of the mirror, and express displeasure at how they look or how much they weigh.
They may have marks on their hands from repeatedly inducing vomiting. Someone with an eating disorder may also have mood swings, fainting, dizziness, difficulty focusing, and abnormal lab results.
An eating disorder also has behavioral and psychological signs. These include habits and attitudes that give weight loss, food control and body image priority over everything else. A person struggling with an eating disorder may isolate themselves and withdraw from friends, family, and activities they once were interested in. Their self-worth is clearly tied to their eating habits, how much they weigh, etc. They may exhibit a compulsion to exercise, even when unwell or physically unable to.
The Causes of Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa
Research has shown that eating disorders are caused by a variety of factors. These factors include biological, social, psychological influences. A person’s emotional health and environmental influences can also impact their chances of developing an eating disorder.
Who is at Risk for Developing Binge Eating Disorder or Bulimia?
Children who are bullied at school are at risk for developing an eating disorder. This is due to the detrimental impact bullying has on a child’s self-esteem and self-worth. Weight-shaming children (by either their peers or family members) also puts children at risk for developing disordered eating patterns.
People who have been bullied, discriminated against, or stigmatized due to their weight are at greater risk for an eating disorder, particularly BED.
Teenage girls face greater risk for developing an eating disorder, almost twice that of young men.
Social media, movies, and shows increasingly glorify diet culture, exercising, and being thin. There is a constant output of images and videos that are emphasizing only being thin and pretty is acceptable. Adolescents are on the receiving end of this marketing. Due to the long periods they spend on social media platforms, this unhealthy messaging is internalized by many. Self-esteem, self-worth, and body image is negatively impacted.
How Can You Manage and Treat an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorder recovery is possible with the right treatment plan. Early detection is key to recovery and getting started on the correct treatment.
In order to effectively treat an eating disorder, you need the right team. This includes a therapist, who will treat the underlying psychological factors. These could be a desire for control, anxiety, depression, etc. The team also requires a doctor to treat the medical effects of the illness. And finally, a dietician is needed to formulate a meal plan, monitor nourishment, and help develop a healthier attitude towards eating and food.
If you or a loved one are interested in professional support to recover from an eating disorder, consider reaching out to us. Our Trust Mental Health team is comprised of a diverse team of therapists that come from a variety of backgrounds. We offer a free 15 minute consultation, and will match you with a therapist that best meets your unique needs. Your therapist will work with your treatment team to help ensure your recovery success.
FAQs
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An eating disorder is a serious mental illness, and can lead to numerous health problems. Chronic malnutrition, undereating, over-exercising, bingeing and purging – these patterns have significant impact on your health. If you have an eating disorder and are not getting treatment for it, you are possibly at risk for health problems. These include digestive problems, cessation of menstruation, muscle weakness, esophageal lesions, acid reflux, low heart rate, low blood pressure, dental decay, dehydration, constipation, stroke, heart problems, organ failure, and osteoporosis.
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At Trust Mental Health we have a team of therapists from diverse backgrounds. Between us, we speak more than 10 languages. We are accepting clients from all over California. Contact us today for a free 15 minute consultation. We will match you with a therapist you will suit your needs and who will understand your background. Your therapist will develop a treatment plan, in coordination with your care team, to ensure that you are on the path to sustainable recovery.
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Recovery from an eating disorder means first accepting that you have unhealthy and dysfunctional habits around food, eating, and your body image. When working with your therapist and treatment team, your recovery will focus on every aspect of your disorder. This means that you will get the support and guidance you need to change your thought patterns, behavioral patterns, and begin to accept yourself. It is a big step to take, but reaching out for support can be the best thing you do for yourself and your future.
People may feel a sense of shame, guilt, or stigma about their eating disorder. Please understand that you are not alone. Your treatment team with provide you with the mental, emotional, and physical care you need. Talk to someone you trust, someone whom you feel can hold this space with you. This person can help connect you with a therapist, a doctor, and help you find the treatment you need.
To improve your chances of recovery, consider doing the following:
Follow your treatment plan. Attend your therapy sessions and adhere to the meal plan that has been made for you. Stick to your doctor’s instructions about exercise.
Try to resist the need to weigh yourself and check yourself in the mirror.
Let your family and friends that care about you in, do not push them away or withdraw any longer.
Try to find something that will help you relax and reduce your anxiety. This could be meditation, reading, watching a show, spending time with your pet.