Eating disorder: symptoms, causes, and treatment

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Definition of an eating disorder

What is an eating disorder?

Eating disorder or eating disorder is a serious condition related to eating behavior that has a negative impact on health, emotions, and the ability to function in everyday life.

This condition, including mental illness, can affect your body's ability to get the proper nutrition. As a result, it can harm the heart, digestive system, bones, teeth and mouth, and trigger other diseases.

This disorder is common in adolescents and young adults, although it can develop at other ages. With treatment, patients can return to healthier eating habits and sometimes treat serious complications caused by this condition.

How common is this condition?

Eating disorder or eating disorder is a fairly common condition. Although it can affect all ages, the cases are most often found in adolescents and young adults.

Signs & symptoms of eating disorder

Eating disorder can cause various symptoms, depending on the type of condition you are suffering from. Reporting from the Mayo Clinic page, the following is an explanation of the types of eating disorders and the symptoms they cause.

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a potentially life-threatening condition because it makes sufferers underweight. This is because sufferers are reluctant to eat for fear of gaining weight.

These wrong perceptions make sufferers try to control their weight in extreme ways, for example eating little but exercising excessively, using laxatives to help with diet, or vomiting after eating.

Efforts to lose weight and prevent this increase can lead to serious health problems, such as starvation that can lead to death.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a type of eating disorder that causes sufferers to eat large amounts of food in a short time, but is followed by attempts to vomit food, take laxatives, or appetite suppressant drugs.

This is because they feel guilt, shame, and fear of gaining weight from overeating. People with this condition will also feel stress because they are constantly thinking about their weight and body shape.

Binge-eating disorder

Binge-eating disorder is a condition of overeating and lack of control over the behavior. Sufferers may eat quickly or eat more than desired, even when you are not hungry.

After overeating, people with this condition will feel guilt and shame about the behavior. However, this does not make the sufferer try hard to lose weight.

This condition makes the patient overweight or even obese.

Rumination disorder

Ruminance disorder is the behavior of regurgitating food which is sometimes chewed again and swallowed or can also be chewed and then regurgitated.

This condition can cause malnutrition if the food is swallowed less than the portion that should be. Usually, rumination disorders occur in children, infants, or people born with intellectual disabilities.

Avoidant / Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

This disorder is characterized by failure to meet the minimum daily nutritional requirements due to not having an appetite or avoiding foods with certain sensory characteristics, such as color, texture, smell or taste. It can also be caused by worry and fear of choking.

This condition causes a drastic weight loss which in turn can interfere with health.

Pica

Pica is a type of eating disorder characterized by someone eating something that is not suitable for eating. This condition is like a child who puts objects in his mouth out of curiosity.

People with this condition may eat something that can interfere with health. Examples of things that are eaten are dirt, rocks, paper, crayons, hair, or chalk.

When to see a doctor

If you or a relative shows signs of eating problems, consulting a doctor is highly recommended. Especially if it shows the following signs:

• Adopting a vegetarian diet that is too strict.
• Skipping meals and making excuses not to eat.
• Constantly worrying and complaining about your fat body, and checking your body too often in front of the mirror.
• Continue to overeat.
• Taking diet pills or laxatives for excessive weight loss.

Causes of eating disorders (eating disorders)

The exact cause of eating disorders is not known. However, like any mental illness, this condition may be caused by:

• Genetic and biological

Certain people may have certain genes that increase their risk of developing eating disorders. Coupled with the presence of biological factors, such as changes in brain chemicals, can also increase the risk of disease.

• Psychological and emotional health

Psychological and emotional problems, such as low self-esteem, perfectionism, impulsive behavior, and problems with relationships can also be a cause of eating disorders.

Risk factors for eating disorders

Although the exact cause is not known, scientists have found a variety of factors that can increase the risk of eating disorders, such as:

• Gender and age

Girls and women are more likely to suffer from anorexia or bulimia than boys and men. However, boys and men can also experience this disorder.

This condition can occur over a wide age range, but is most often found in adolescents in their early 20s.

• Family medical history

This condition is more likely to occur in people who have parents or siblings who have had a similar condition.

• Having other mental illnesses

People with this condition often have a history of anxiety disorder, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

• Follow a strict diet

A strict diet is a risk factor for eating disoderder. This is because hunger affects the brain and affects mood swings, rigidity in thinking, anxiety and decreased appetite.

• Under pressure

Whether it's going to college, moving houses and schools, getting fired from work, or family or partner issues, they can all bring stress, which can increase your risk of developing dietary problems.

Complications of eating disorders (eating disorders)

Eating disorder can cause various complications if not treated promptly, including:

• Serious health problems, such as heart disease, stomach problems, or other chronic illnesses that can lead to death.
• Depression and anxiety disorders.
• There were thoughts of suicide and self-harm behavior.
• Experiencing addiction, such as alcoholism or using illegal drugs (drugs).
• Social life, work, and performance at school deteriorate.

Diagnosis & treatment of eating disorders

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

A diagnosis of eating disorder will be made based on symptoms and eating habits. In addition, your doctor may order you to undergo a series of medical tests for eating disorders, such as:

• Physical test. The doctor will examine the patient to rule out other medical causes that are causing problems with eating behavior.
• Psychological evaluation. The doctor or psychiatrist will most likely ask questions about the patient's thoughts, feelings, and eating habits. The doctor will also ask the patient to complete a psychological self-assessment questionnaire.

Psychiatrists may also use the diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

How do you treat eating disorders?

Eating disorders can be treated with care from psychiatric specialists, psychologists, and nutritionists. Here are some possible ways to treat eating disorders:

• Implement a healthy diet

Doctors and nutritionists will check the patient's weight. Then, the nutritionist will direct a healthy diet that is appropriate to help gain or lose weight according to your age.

• Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a therapy that aims to help clients through difficult times and learn various ways to solve problems in life. In this therapy, the therapist will help patients stop bad eating behavior.

There are types of psychotherapy that are usually undertaken, namely:

• Family-based therapy (FBT). This therapy is usually intended for children and adolescents who experience eating behavior problems. The family will be involved in ensuring that the child or family member follows a healthy diet and maintains a healthy weight.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Cognitive-behavioral therapy is generally reserved for patients with bulimia and binge-eating disorders. Patients will learn how to monitor eating habits and develop problem solving skills, as well as explore healthy ways to deal with stress.

• Taking medication

Medicines cannot cure eating disorders. However, certain medications can help patients control the urge to overeat, pass stool, or to manage excessive preoccupation with food and diet.

The drugs used are antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs.

• Inpatient

If you have a serious health problem, such as anorexia that results in severe malnutrition, your doctor may recommend hospitalization.

The treatment program for this case may require more intensive care over a longer period of time.

Treat your eating disorder at home

Apart from undergoing treatment from a doctor, home care also needs to be done which includes:

• Applying a healthy diet that has been directed by a doctor.
• Reduce stress by doing sports, meditation, or other activities that you like.
• Carry out regular health checks, to check for other health problems that may arise due to eating disorders.
• Stop using diet pills or laxatives so as not to cause side effects on health.

Prevention of eating disorders (eating disorders)

There is no sure way to prevent eating disorders. However, there are some tips that you can apply to have healthy eating behaviors, including:

• Increase your self-confidence and awareness of loving yourself, regardless of your weight and body shape.
• If you want to go on a diet, you should ask for advice from a nutritionist so that your diet doesn't cause problems.
• Adopt a healthy diet so that you keep eating on time and according to portions.
• If you are under stress or stress, do not take your emotions out through eating, but other healthy ways that can help deal with stress. If necessary, consult a psychologist.