What is an eating disorder
Unlike eating issues, eating disorders are a serious medical condition. If left untreated, they can have severe negative impacts on both your mental and physical health.
Eating disorders all revolve around a fixation with body size and shape and losing weight.
But not just losing weight, after all, who wouldn’t like to lose a few more kilos?
It’s when you are compulsively using unhealthy behaviors to control your weight, shape or size that you have an eating disorder to the point of obsession – that’s when you have an eating disorder.
You can’t stop, even if you try.
Common eating disorders include:
Binge eating disorder
A cycle of binging on unhealthy food, putting on weight, then dieting to lose weight, before caving in and binging on unhealthy food again – and repeat. An obsession with body weight drives the cycle.
Bulimia
Removing excess calories from your body before they are digested – such as forcing yourself to vomit after a meal.
Anorexia
An obsessive fear of gaining weight and an unrealistic view of your own body. You’ll undereat to the point of serious health issues.
OSFED
A lot of eating disorders overlap with each other. If an eating disorder does not clearly match up with one of the other three, but contains elements of each, you may be diagnosed with Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) – it essentially means “other eating disorder.”
Eating disorders are serious and should be addressed quickly. If you believe you are struggling with an eating disorder, you should contact your Doctor immediately.
How do you know if you have an eating disorder?
Your doctor will be able to tell you if you have an eating disorder.
The current method used to diagnose an eating disorder is taking the Eating Disorder Questionnaire (EDQ) alongside an interview with your doctor regarding your issue.
From here, the Doctor will make a formal assessment of your condition and the treatment options available to you.
Not sure if you should see a doctor? Here are some warning signs you may have an eating disorder.
An obsession with body weight
You are extremely motivated to control your body shape and weight, even if it risks your physical or mental health.
You restrict calories
You frequently diet to the point of starving yourself.
You purge after eating
You vomit, use laxatives or excessively exercise to get rid of the calories you ate.
Your behavior is impacting your life
You avoid social situations where you might have to eat with other people and make excuses to hide your eating disorder.
Loss of control
This behavior has taken over your life and you have no control to stop it – even if it’s affecting your health.
As you can see, an eating disorder is a high end medical condition that should be treated ASAP. We can work with you and your doctor to help you overcome your eating disorder.