I've faced a variety of challenges over the course of my many years in my medical career, but cases of eating disorders are always particularly impressive. The fear of food in front of these patients, their gradual physical emaciation, and their psychological struggles often make me feel the severity of their illness and the urgency of treatment.
I remember one time a seventeen-year-old girl, whom I called Amy (not her real name), was sent to see me by her parents. Her parents were very worried because Amy's weight had dropped dramatically over the past few months, almost to the point of being skinny. During our first meeting, Amy showed great resistance to any food, even the food she once enjoyed. Her fear of food was so intense that the mere mention of eating was enough to make her feel sick.
Through in-depth conversations with Amy and her family, we began to understand that this didn't happen overnight. Amy was under a lot of pressure at school and always felt like she wasn't good enough, and the popular social media was full of the pursuit of a "perfect body" that had a huge impact on her. She began to restrict her diet to control her weight, but soon this behavior got out of control and evolved into an anorexic behavior.
In Amy's case, we have adopted a multidisciplinary approach that includes nutritional counseling, psychotherapy, and necessary medical interventions. The first step in therapy was to rebuild her relationship with food and gradually reshape her perception of her body. It's been a long and complicated process, but it's a great satisfaction to see Amy gradually regain her health and enjoy eating and living again.
Basic concepts and classifications of eating disorders
The main types of eating disorders include the following:
Phagocytosis
People with anorexia have an extreme fear of weight gain and feel overweight even when they weigh well below normal. They may be able to control their weight and shape by eating very small amounts, exercising excessively, or other methods. Anorexia is not only a dietary problem, but also a distorted perception of body image.
Phagocytosis
People with bulimia often engage in binge eating, i.e., consuming large amounts of food in a very short period of time and feeling that the process is uncontrollable. After binge eating, in order to avoid weight gain, they will resort to extreme measures such as vomiting, excessive use of laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise to "make up" for the food they have consumed.
Binge eating disorder
People with binge-eating disorder eat large amounts on a regular basis, similar to bulimia, but they don't take any remedies to counteract the amount of food they eat. This type of eating disorder is often associated with weight gain and obesity and can lead to serious psychological and physical health problems.
Other, less common types include:
Food intake disorders
Unlike the above situations where food is restricted due to concerns about body size, people with ARFID avoid specific foods or food groups because of the sensation, color, smell, texture, or fear of vomiting.
Nocturnal eating syndrome
People with this disorder usually wake up at night to eat, or continue to consume large amounts of food after dinner. This may interfere with normal sleep patterns and is often associated with mood disorders such as depression.
Causes of eating disorders
Physiological factors
Eating disorders are not just a matter of dietary choices, they are heavily influenced by physiological factors. First of all, genetic roles cannot be ignored. Studies have shown that if someone in the family has ever suffered from an eating disorder, the other members are more likely to have the disease. In addition, the imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, such as neurotransmitters, is also associated with the occurrence of eating disorders. For example, abnormalities in chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, which are involved in mood regulation and satiety, can lead to abnormal eating behavior.
Psychological factors
The role of psychological factors in eating disorders should not be underestimated. Stress is an important factor, whether it's academic, work, or relationship stress, which can push individuals to adopt extreme eating behaviors in an attempt to manage this sense of instability. Additionally, many people with eating disorders often show an attachment to perfection, and they may exhibit high standards and perfectionist tendencies in academics or careers. Low self-esteem is also a key factor, and patients may be able to improve their sense of self-worth by controlling their diet.
Social and cultural impacts
The influence of society and culture on eating disorders cannot be ignored. In today's society, the media often promotes an ideal, often unrealistic body image, which can lead to dissatisfaction and anxiety about how individuals look. In addition, socio-aesthetic standards, especially the evaluation of women's appearance, can also exert pressure on an individual's eating behavior. This external pressure may drive some people to extreme dieting or overeating in order to meet or escape these standards.
Advice on self-management in everyday life
1. Establish healthy eating habits
Eating at regular intervals: Setting a regular eating time can help establish the body's eating rhythm and reduce discomfort caused by hunger or oversatiety.
Balanced diet: Arrange your diet to ensure that you have enough protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as essential vitamins and minerals, at each meal.
Eat in moderation: Learn to listen to your body's needs and avoid excessive hunger or overeating. A food diary can be used to keep track of daily food intake to help with self-monitoring.
2. Psychological advice
Regular self-reflection: Monitor your mood swings and their effects on appetite by keeping a journal or tracking your mood.
Learn stress reduction techniques: Try methods such as meditation, deep breathing, or yoga to manage daily stress. Effective stress management can reduce the likelihood of emotional eating.
Boost self-esteem: Engage in self-confidence-boosting activities, such as participating in interest groups, volunteering, or learning new skills. Feeling a boost in self-worth can indirectly improve attitudes towards food.
3. Steps
How to use the antipyretic patch: Although not directly associated with an eating disorder, similar simple self-care measures (e.g., proper use of the antipyretic patch when feeling unwell) can also improve self-care skills.
How to operate: Apply the antipyretic patch to the forehead or neck, etc., mainly to cool down or relieve headaches. Change every 12 hours, keeping an eye on changes in body temperature.
Monitoring food intake and mood changes:
Daily Record: Keep a daily record of the type and amount of food you eat, and your emotional reactions thereafter. This can help identify the emotional factors that trigger binge eating or anorexia.
Establish a feedback mechanism: Share these records with your therapist for professional feedback and guidance.
By implementing these self-management tips, people with eating disorders can not only improve their eating habits and physical health, but also enhance their self-control and self-confidence in their daily lives, and gradually return to a normal lifestyle and eating rhythm.