The Relationship Between Chronic Illnesses, Food, and Body Image
When we live in a society that promotes diet culture, most of us have to work on our relationship with food and body image. It is a journey to unlearn toxic diet culture messages for all of us, but how does diet culture impact those with chronic illness?
By: Elizabeth Low
A significant amount of the population lives with a chronic physical or mental disorder. According to the CDC, in 2018, at least 51.8% of adults in the United States had at least one common chronic health condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, while 27.2% of the U.S population had multiple common chronic health conditions. Chronic health conditions are more likely to occur among women and the elderly. Many individuals have less common chronic health conditions like fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and migraines.
The nature and course of a chronic condition are difficult to grapple with. Chronic illnesses usually cannot be cured, but managed. Individuals must learn to live with their disease, which can be challenging. People with a chronic illness often have to give more thought to eating. They may not be able to eat with as much freedom as someone without a chronic disease can. Someone with celiac disease must be diligent about not consuming gluten and ensuring cross-contamination isn’t an issue. Someone with cystic fibrosis may face stomach pain after eating fat or protein if they do not take their medication.
Many people with chronic diseases struggle with their body image, not because of how it looks but because their bodies do not work the way they want them to. Aside from medication and treatments, lifestyle changes are often recommended to people with chronic conditions to help alleviate symptoms or minimize disease progression. Many chronic illnesses are managed by adhering to a diet that may reduce or exclude particular nutrients. For example, individuals with Type 2 Diabetics are commonly instructed to consume less sugar and carbohydrates. Your healthcare providers may recommend becoming more active too. However, if you suffer from chronic pain, you may not be able to move as much as you would like.
The data shows that people who suffer from chronic medical conditions, such as GI disorders, who have to focus more on their diets have an increased risk of developing disordered eating. Disordered eating may occur in individuals with chronic illnesses to cope with symptoms they experience. When individuals feel they cannot control certain aspects of their health, they may attempt to control their eating and weight.
If you live with a chronic illness, you should focus on the things your body can do and how strong it is to keep you going every day. Take the pressure off yourself; your experience with food and body image will look different than someone who does not have a chronic disease. You should be gentle with yourself and not compare yourself to others. Surrounding yourself with supportive people also makes a big difference. Some therapists specialize in coping with chronic illnesses. Although there need to be more resources directed toward those with chronic illnesses, it is possible to develop a healthy relationship with food and your body.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues. In addition to our full-time Day Treatment Program and Weeknight Intensive Outpatient Program, we offer high-quality programming, nutrition counseling with a licensed dietitian, meal support, and various other groups and resources to help those seeking help for food concerns.
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below, or read more about our philosophy here.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Elizabeth Low (she/her).
Elizabeth is currently finishing her sociology degree with a concentration in social interaction and a minor in psychology at San Jose State University. During her undergraduate studies she has volunteered and worked in childcare, and in the food industry. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Nutrition or Counseling. She hopes to actively counteract social messaging that is linked to disordered eating, overexercise, and body dissatisfaction. Her interests include cooking, childcare, education, research, and writing. She plans to help individuals have a healthy relationship with food and their body image through counseling in the future.
References
Boersma, Peter, et al. “Prevalence of Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults, 2018.” Preventing Chronic Disease, vol. 17, 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2020/20_0130.htm. Accessed April 1 2022.
Karges, Crystal. “Eating Disorders Among Individuals With Chronic Illness.” Eating Disorder Hope, https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/eating-disorders-individuals-chronic-illness. Accessed 1 April 2022.
“Type 2 Diabetes-Diagnosis and Treatment.” Mayo Clinic, 20 Jan. 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351199.
Pace, Olivia. “How My Chronic Illness Impacts My Eating Disorder.” Rewire, https://www.rewire.org/eating-disorder-chronic-illness/. Accessed 1 April 2022.
Tribole, Evelyn, and Elyse Resch. “10 Principles of Intuitive Eating”. The Intuitive Eating Pros, https://www.intuitiveeating.org/10-principles-of-intuitive-eating/. Accessed April 1 2022.
Quick, Virginia M et al. “Chronic Illness and Disordered Eating: A Discussion of the Literature.” Advances In Nutrition vol. 4, no. 3, 2013, pp. 277-86.