Eating disorders - the reality :: Wessex Scene Online

Eating disorders - the reality

14th November 2003
Joanna Goldberg

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ANOREXIA nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and compulsive eating. To us these are medical diagnosis, but to those who suffer from them, these terms encapsulate so much more than just a name.

Their world becomes one of lies, deceit, obsessive behaviour, and in many cases anger and depression.

An eating disorder has a huge impact on the friends and family of that person, as well a mental and physical effect.

The condition can be likened an abstract painting. It is as real as the eye of the beholder sees it. When they look in the mirror, they see what their eating disorder wants them to see, and not what is really there.

Some will lose weight because they think it will make them happy, but cannot see the repercussions of their actions on those around them.

Those at University are at a very high risk of developing eating disorders, especially new students and those facing the stresses of exams. An unfamiliar place and the demands of being independent, making new friends and “fitting in”, can be extremely daunting, and such pressures and fears may lead students to turn to food as a way of coping.

By focusing their attention on their weight, their time is consumed with something other than the realities of life. Also, a physical or sexual abuse, coupled with the anxieties of University life, can be a trigger for someone to turn to nutrition in an attempt to re-gain a sense of control or comfort in their life.

But why do they turn to food?

Often it is because they can attempt to block out an emotional pain. It exists in every day life and can therefore be easily manipulated, especially when living away from home. Through doing this, they can see the physical effect on themselves, and understand that that they are making a personal impact. Their bodies become a channel for their worries and turbulent experiences. Such an effect has been described as worse than schizophrenia, as food can become a means of extreme self-punishment and destruction.

There are plenty of misconceptions concerning anorexia and bulimia. People often think that the person involved is purely obsessed with food and weight loss, when in actual fact, an eating disorder is a manifestation of an underlying problem in that person’s life.

Another common misunderstanding is that people often expect anorexics to appear extremely emaciated and frail, although this image is not always true of the condition. Some may be as little as 5lbs underweight. They do not have to look ridiculously thin to be ill. All eating deficiencies are dangerous and potentially life threatening. For example, bulimics are at a high risk of dying from cardiac arrest or a ruptured oesophagus.

Symptoms of someone suffering from anorexia or bulimia are that they wear bigger clothes, they can lose an obvious amount of weight, they do excessive exercise, do not eat in front of others, and if they do, justify what they are eating, and they will often become quite introvert, turning their focus to something else, like their studies.

If you are worried about someone that you think may have such a condition, seek advice. Usually, it is the opinion of an outsider, such as a professional that will make the person think about the risks and consequences of their actions.