Eating Disorders In Women
Eating Disorders Are Prevalent Among Women
75% of women between the ages of 25-45 participate in unusual behaviors and thoughts around food that are characteristic of disordered eating, according to a recent survey by SELF Magazine in partnership with the University of North Carolina. This finding is one of many highlighting eating disorders as a serious mental health concern that warrants further attention.
Types of Eating Disorders
The main types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and unspecified disordered eating. While no two people with eating disorders present the same, eating disorders are most commonly seen in women.
Anorexia Nervosa:
Women with anorexia nervosa often severely restrict their food intake out of an intense fear of gaining weight. These women are often underweight, and their restrictive eating can have devastating medical consequences or result in death.
Bulimia Nervosa:
This type of eating disorder involves episodes of binging and purging. Women with bulimia nervosa typically experience a loss of control when eating and feel as though they must purge their bodies of this food through behaviors such as vomiting, laxatives, or other medications.
Binge Eating:
Similar to bulimia nervosa, women with binge eating disorders experience frequent binge eating episodes over an extended period of time. There are typically feelings of guilt and loss of control when eating.
Unspecified Feeding and Eating:
Eating disorders that do not fit into these three categories are considered unspecified feeding or eating disorders. Eating disorders in this category are no less severe and deserve equal medical and professional attention.
What Causes Eating Disorders?
It is common to wonder what life factors and lived experiences contribute to the formation of an eating disorder. Medicine Net notes that genetic, psychological, and environmental factors increase the risk of women developing an eating disorder. These factors include but are not limited to contemporary beauty standards, low self-esteem, family history, hormonal changes, anxiety, depression, and/or childhood obesity or abuse.
What Are the Signs of Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are problematic, yet there are several signs that someone you know may be suffering from an eating disorder. According to McLean Hospital, some common indicators include:
Sudden changes in mood
Excessive exercise
Rapid weight loss
Ritualistic eating,
Obsessive focus on weight and/or calories
What Are the Treatments of Eating Disorders?
Treatment of eating disorders is an evolving field. Overall, treatment involves an individualized treatment plan unique to each woman and her specific condition.
Individual or Group Counseling:
Mayo Clinic describes the most critical part of eating disorder treatment as counseling at the individual or group level. In counseling, individuals will explore their relationship to food and associated mental health concerns.
Nutrition and Medication:
Optimal eating disorder treatment involves teamwork between dieticians, who provide education on proper nutrition, and doctors, who prescribe medications or advise on other ways to reverse the negative physical consequences of disordered eating.
Other types of treatment include hospital day treatment as well as residential treatment if the symptoms are considered severe by the providers.
How to Help Someone with An Eating Disorder?
If someone in your life is suffering from an eating disorder, identifying the best approach to provide support can be overwhelming. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) suggests a combination of self-education, encouragement, and conversation. There are many misconceptions surrounding eating disorders, so it is important to be as informed as possible before approaching this topic with a loved one.
Encouragement:
Includes suggesting options for professional help, avoiding negative stigmas associated with eating disorders, and not over-simplifying the experience.
Conversation:
The NEDA recommends approaching these conversations intentionally by setting aside a specific time and space, rehearsing your thoughts, and preparing for the possibility of a negative reaction. The content of this conversation should focus on personal and factual observations as conversations such as these can be filled with great emotion. It is also acceptable to speak with a family member or friend.
Emergency:
If the person appears to be at risk of psychological or medical emergency as a result of their eating disorder (i.e., threats of suicide, seizures, and/or fainting), one should immediately pursue medical attention or call 911.
Frequently Ask Questions
-
Contemporary beauty standards and social media idealize thinness and pressure women to attain an unachievable ideal. Genetics and brain activity of women are thought to play a role.
-
Social media allows individuals to curate their image. Popular content is filled with influencers, models, and users that do not represent the general population. These images are often edited. Contemporary apps such as Facetune, FaceApp, and PhotoShop allow anyone to alter their body, face, and overall appearance drastically. Social media promotes comparison, and indirectly, disordered eating behaviors.
-
The NEDA reports eating disorders hurt every organ system with a long list of negative health consequences. Some specific consequences include:
Decreased heart rate
Increased risk for heart failure
Decreased blood pressure
Stomach pain/rupture
Damaged nerve endings
Deterioration of the esophagus
Intestinal obstruction or rupture
Insomnia
Numbness
Seizures
Loss of menstruation, hair
Kidney failure
-
Preventing an eating disorder involves reducing and protecting against the factors that increase the risk of an eating disorder. Prevention programs meet this goal by promoting healthy ideas and behaviors towards food and body image.
Disclaimer
The information on this page, or elsewhere on this site, is not intended to take the place of diagnosis, treatment or informed advice from a qualified mental health professional. You should not take or avoid any action without consultation with the latter.
If you would like to talk to a counselor, please click here.
References
Kumar, K. (2021, July 2017). What causes eating disorders in women? MedicineNet. https://www.medicinenet.com/what_causes_eating_disorders_in_women/article.htm
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017, July 14). Eating disorder treatment: Know your options. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/in-depth/eating-disorder-treatment/art-20046234
Mclean Hospital. (2022, February 28). Understanding mental health over a woman’s lifetime. https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/understanding-mental-health-over-womans-lifetime
National Eating Disorder Association. (n.d.) Health consequences. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/health-consequences
National Eating Disorder Association. (n.d.) How to help a loved one. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/help/caregivers
National Eating Disorder Association. (n.d.) Prevention. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/general-information/prevention.
Office on Women’s Health. (2019, March 1). Eating disorders.
https://www.womenshealth.gov/mentalhealth/mental-health-conditions/eating-disorders
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (2008, April 23). Three out of four American
women have disordered rating, survey suggests.ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 13, 2022, from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422202514.htm
Whiteman, H. (2016, October 16). Why are women more vulnerable to eating disorders? Brain study sheds light. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313466