What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are a disorder that occurs in the body as a result of irregular nutrition and impairs health. Obsessions with food, body weight, and shape can also indicate an eating disorder. It can occur at any age, but it is usually seen at a young age. While these conditions are treatable, they can be fatal in the later stages if the symptoms are not handled well.

Causes of Eating Disorders

Generally, biological, psychological or environmental abnormalities contribute to the development of these diseases. Examples of biological factors are: ırregular hormone functions, genetic, nutritional deficiencies.

Examples of psychological factors include: Negative body image, poor self-esteem.

Examples of environmental factors are: Dysfunctional family dynamic, aesthetic-oriented sports with an emphasis on maintaining a lean body, childhood traumas such as childhood sexual abuse and severe trauma, cultural or peer pressure among friends and colleagues, stressful life changes.

What Are the Symptoms of an Eating Disorder?

Chronic diet habit despite being thin, constant weight fluctuations, repeating ritual forms of cutting food into small pieces, eating alone, or storing food, persistent obsession with food, recipes, or cooking, depression, social functions, being away from family and friends, isolating oneself from society.

Eating Disorder Treatment

Different forms of psychotherapy, such as individual, family, or group, can be helpful in addressing the underlying causes of eating disorders. Therapy is a fundamental treatment because it offers the person the opportunity to learn healthier coping skills and methods to handle and heal traumatic life events and to express emotions, communicate and maintain healthy relationships during the recovery process.