There are many different forms of eating disorders which can affect anyone at any age. The week commencing the 2nd March is Eating Disorders Awareness Week. This will be used to discuss various conditions, raise awareness and hopefully help those in need. It's important to highlight what some of these conditions are, reasons why they may develop and ultimately how someone might be able to overcome them.
Definition:
Like the term suggests an eating disorder relates to an individual’s relationship with food. They become fixated with how much or how little they consume obsessing with their body weight. According to the Mental Health Foundation, around 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder and it doesn’t just affect females, 25% are males.
Types:
There are a variety of conditions but perhaps the most common are, Anorexia and Bulimia. What's the difference? Someone who has been diagnosed as anorexic will attempt to lose and maintain the lowest body weight possible, often through starvation and excessive exercise. Those diagnosed as Bulimic ultimately have the same goal. However, they often eat large quantities in a short period in order to make themselves physically sick. Both are a result of a distorted body image. It's an obsessive desire to alter their appearance, often taking drastic actions to achieve this.
Reasons why:
There are also many factors that can contribute to such disorders whether it’s a personal situation or ones emotional or physical state. Food consumption can be branded as a coping mechanism and an aspect in their life that they feel they have sole and full control of.
However, the internet and particularly social media is another highly influential cause. With over half the population active on at least one platform, what is considered “the norm” has dramatically changed over the years. Everyone strives for the picture-perfect lifestyle and what they consider the ideal body shape. With access to filters and photoshop apps, our perception of what is real has become distorted. These images put pressure on followers. It creates an obsession to achieve the same image and a mindset that this is what acceptance looks like. This in turn not only affects their relationship with food but their mental health. For more mental health statistics and key signs take a look at our blog, Understanding Mental Health.
Photo credit: Mental Health Foundation (no copyright infringement is intended.)
Students:
Students are a demographic that are particularly affected. After conducting a survey, the charity, Beat discovered that 32% of students develop some form of eating disorder after moving to university. Some may develop anxiety before leaving home for the first time. This can then trigger the start of unusual eating habits. With no immediate support network and a change in environment, this habit can progress into something more dangerous as they start their new life at university.
University is an exciting time for many but for others, it can be an overwhelming readjustment. It comes with a lot of firsts - new home, new people and new work environment. There’s the pressure to fit in and make new friends and learning how to juggle coursework and tight deadlines. As the exam period is fast approaching and those in their final year have pending dissertation deadlines, we would like to remind students that this is only temporary. There are ways to cope with stress. For tips take a look at our blog,How To Manage Stress at University.
With assignments and social events keeping students occupied how can you tell if someone close to you has developed an eating disorder? Stay tuned for Part 2...
