If left untreated, eating disorders can have major physical health repercussions and mental ones such as states of depression, dejection, and social anxiety.
Here is a list of 6 common types of eating disorders and the ways how they are treated!
Binge Eating
One of the most frequent eating disorders, especially in the United States and Europe, is overeating. It commonly starts in youth or early adulthood, but it may start at any time. When it comes to overeating, people with these conditions experience symptoms that are comparable to those of bulimia or anorexia subtype. For example, they frequently consume unusually large amounts of food in short periods of time and feel out of control while doing so.
As a result, overeating disorder patients are frequently overweight or obese. This raises their risk of medical issues linked to obesity, such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
As for treatment, psychotherapy is commonly used to both treat and prevent bingeing episodes. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy is employed to help change the behavior, learn self-control, and become more emotionally resistant. However, there are also other ways to put a stop to binge eating such as herbal pills, and the like. Natural ways are always the best option to treat any disorder or illness!
Night Eating Syndrome
Night eating syndrome is an eating condition that arises when sleep is disrupted often. People with this kind of eating disorder often worry that if they don’t eat, they won’t be able to sleep again. This results in waking up numerous times in a single night, eating food, and then the feeling of embarrassment or dejection frequently follows.
Night eating syndrome is treated by antidepressants, which are used to improve mood and emotion regulation. Also, progressive muscular relaxation and other mind-body activities are used in treatment as they can help the patients relax and fall asleep easier. On the other hand, melatonin supplements may be recommended by your doctor to help you fall asleep easier and remain asleep at night.
Anorexia
Almost every one of us has learned about anorexia from TV and celebrities, and it is exactly what we saw – extremely skinny women with an obsession to always look thin. This, however, does not exclusively apply to women, but to men as well, although women are more susceptible to this eating disorder. The common surprising fact about this disorder is that even if they are dangerously underweight, people with anorexia tend to think of themselves as fat. They tend to keep a close eye on their weight, avoid particular foods, and restrict their calorie intake.
Nevertheless, it must be pointed out that anorexia may be extremely damaging to one’s health, perhaps even more than binge eating and many other similar eating disorders. Furthermore, anorexia can often lead to bone weakening, infertility, brittle hair, etc. On top of that, anorexia can result in multiple organ failures, as well as death, in severe circumstances.
The treatment of anorexia falls under a highly specialized field that is usually conducted in a hospital environment. Individual psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, and medicines are among the treatment modalities used.
Bulimia
Bulimia is another eating disorder that many have heard about from the celebrities who suffered from it – the most known case is Princess Diana, who suffered from it. Bulimia, like anorexia, develops during the teenage years or later, predominantly in women. People suffering from this disorder frequently consume extremely enormous amounts of food over a long period. Binge eating generally lasts until the person is extremely stuffed. A person suffering from bulimia feels unable to stop eating or regulate how much he or she eats.
As for treatment, a doctor should diagnose bulimia first. Bulimia is treated psychologically using individual, family, or group psychotherapy. Behavioral or cognitive treatment is frequently administered as well. Behavioral therapy focuses on modifying habits, with sessions generally devoted to studying behavior and creating strategies to change it, and patients adhering to specified standards of conduct in between sessions.
Pica Disorder
Pica is a condition in which a person consumes non-food substances such as ice, paper, wood, paint, metal, glass, etc. If this happens on a regular basis for at least one month, the person is most commonly diagnosed with a pica eating disorder. When this activity happens frequently enough to elicit clinical attention, pica is then diagnosed.
In mild cases, pica can be treated at home, with the help of a doctor and family. It is important that the patient is educated well on the harmful effects of pica and should be encouraged to eat normal food and rewarded for it.
In more severe cases, however, medications that boost dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter, may help alleviate pica symptoms.
Rumination Disorder
Rumination is a disorder in which a person regurgitates food that they’ve already digested and chewed. It is marked by frequent re-chewing food, and then swallowing or spitting it out. Typically, these rumination episodes happen during the first half an hour following a meal.
There are no medications that are beneficial in treating rumination syndrome. The most effective technique to stop it is to practice how to correctly eat and digest food. This necessitates the practice of diaphragmatic breathing. This is normally taught by a behavioral psychologist, and it is simple to learn. Similarly, it can be treated with the help of family at home.
If you have some of the symptoms of these eating disorders, make sure you act swiftly and consult your doctor!
