Why Are Eating Disorders So Hard To Understand?
Photo by Jade Soek via Unsplash
Content Warning: This blog contains information about eating disorders, body image, and weight.
The name may seem pretty straightforward, but eating disorders are one of the most misunderstood conditions. Popular culture shows us images of thin, white, teenage girls striving to achieve beauty ideals, but the truth is that eating disorders impact a broad spectrum of the population, for many different reasons, and in many different ways – and recovery can be just as complex as the root causes.
As we mark this year’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, consider this staggering stat: 1 in 11 Americans – nearly 30 million people – will develop an eating disorder in their lifetime.
Here are some reasons why eating disorders can be unique from other mental health conditions:
Eating disorders are biopsychosocial.
A major challenge with eating disorders is that they’re biopsychosocial disorders, which means they are deeply woven into your body, your mind, and society. From genetics, historical trauma, family history, upbringing, co-occurring mental health challenges, and personality types, disordered eating can arise for many reasons. They can have devastating effects on both your physical and mental health, and it’s difficult to separate one from the other.
Eating disorders can take many forms.
Most people have heard of anorexia and bulimia, but did you know that the most common eating disorder in the U.S. is Binge Eating Disorder (BED), which is more than three times more common than anorexia and bulimia combined and more common than breast cancer, HIV, and schizophrenia? Another prevalent disorder is orthorexia, an obsession with “healthy eating” that’s increasingly easier to hide with today’s trending talk about keto, paleo, and intermittent fasting.
Eating disorders don’t fit stereotypes.
Women are more likely to suffer from an eating disorder, but BED, purging, laxative abuse, and fasting for weight loss are nearly as common among males – and men are actually more at risk of dying than women because they’re often diagnosed later since many people assume males don’t have eating disorders. Transgender and nonbinary people are disproportionately affected by eating disorders because of the complicated relationship between body image and gender identity. Transmasculine individuals, for example, may want to prevent puberty and resort to restricting their eating in order to do so; others may intentionally try to gain weight in order to achieve a curvier figure.
There are constant, conflicting messages across society.
From the moment we wake up and turn on the news to our weekly grocery run to a stress-relieving moment on TikTok, we receive both subliminal and explicit messages about our bodies, food, health, and wellness. These messages often conflate the ideas of body image and health – and they dismiss problematic eating behaviors as normal tendencies. Whether it’s fasting for better focus or obsessing over macronutrients, these kinds of messages have become part of daily conversations so people may not believe they have an issue that requires treatment.
How to Support People Struggling with an Eating Disorder
The more we understand, the more equipped we are in supporting someone who may be struggling. Learning the early warning signs and common triggers of eating disorders is a great first step to being an ally as family and friends play an important role in identifying symptoms. Just like the work we do to become more culturally sensitive in other facets of society, we have to be courageous enough to make mistakes and learn from them.
Taking notice of specific behaviors can be an indication that there is a larger issue at hand. Here are a few common signs of an eating disorder:
Eating alone
Eating bite-sized pieces of food or picking at food
Skipping meals
Preoccupation with meals or mealtimes
Inability to practice flexibility around eating or working out
Consistently visiting the restroom after meals
Constant dieting
Negative self-talk about one’s body shape or size
Preoccupation with calories or ingredients in meals
Constant comparison to others
If you suspect someone has an eating disorder or know someone has suffered from one, there are certain triggers you should be aware of:
Calorie counts on takeout menus
New diets or fad supplements
Comments about someone’s body shape or size
The fit of clothing
Pictures from the past
A powerful way to support someone is active listening. That involves not just hearing the words someone is saying but rather making an effort to understand what they are trying to communicate. Those living with an eating disorder have a complicated journey ahead. An inadequate healthcare system, constant reminders of food and dieting, and stigma, all create barriers and challenges to full recovery. The more we know, the better allies we can be.
Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with or has struggled with an eating disorder, there’s help out there. In addition to therapists at Octave who can support eating disorder recovery, here are some great resources:
NEDA - Find Treatment
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. NEDA supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures, and access to quality care.
Crisis Textline - Helpline
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need.
Project HEAL - Treatment Access
Project HEAL’s goal is to break down barriers to treatment to give every person a shot at recovery. Their programs help people with eating disorders get the care they need and have been repeatedly denied.