For some, eating is a pleasurable activity, a chore, a source of comfort, and it’s all good until our favourite jean threatens to crush our ribs or our tops start hanging on our bodies and our shoulders are the only thing holding it up or until ice becomes sweeter than goat meat. And even then we don’t know how to stop. There’s no straight rule to how eating disorders are developed, they can be caused by negative body image, poor self-esteem, traumas, or life transitions.
Eating disorders come in forms of; bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, pica, binge eating.
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by episodes of eating large portions of food and finding ways to rid the extra calories.
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an abnormally low body weight and an intense fear of gaining weight. And this leads to the use of extreme efforts to maintain a particular body size.
Pica occurs when objects that do not have any nutritional values are craved e.g. ice.
Binge eating occurs when there’s a lack of control over the quantity of food that’s been consumed. A slight guilt might occur after eating but there’s no form of excessive calorie loss. Most people, who struggle with binge eating, prefer eating alone.
How can you help a friend that’s struggling with an eating disorder?
- Encourage them to seek counselling and the help of a health practitioner.
- Don’t recommend diet plans that has not been approved by dietitian,
- If you can, accompany them to the doctors or for therapy sessions.
- Don’t make unnecessary comments on their weight journey.
- Stand with them; let them know they have you as a support- for as long as you can offer it.
How do I control my eating disorders?
- See a doctor.
- See a therapist.
- Be honest with your struggles.
Each day we meet people who are struggling, sometimes we know what they’re struggling with, other times we don’t. Either ways, be kind in your interactions.
-Inifoluwa