The human body is a powerful tool for movement, experience, and self-understanding. While the body enables us to explore our passions, navigate the world, and sense our surroundings, for many, it can also be a source of shame, anxiety, and low self-esteem. The way in which we think, feel, and experience our bodies is largely dependent on our body image.
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Many of us are familiar with and recognize anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder as the most common eating disorders. In addition to these well-known mental health disorders, there are a plethora of less-recognized eating disorders that affect the mental and physical health of millions of individuals. The lack of recognition amongst these lesser-known eating disorders does not make them any less serious or life-threatening.
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Body image is defined as one’s mental perception of oneself, which may or may not be associated with actual physical appearance. Negative body image, or body dissatisfaction, often occurs as a result of a distorted self-perception and is typically associated with feelings of shame, self-consciousness, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Body dissatisfaction can have a significant impact on a person's overall health and wellbeing, and is a leading contributor in the development of eating disorders.
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Self-compassion can be a difficult concept to grasp for individuals with eating disorders, particularly during the early stages of recovery when self-critical thoughts, challenging emotions, and disordered behaviors are most prevalent. For those in treatment for an eating disorder, developing skills and techniques that cultivate self-compassion is essential for a successful recovery.
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Rumination syndrome, or disorder, is a condition where there is a backward flow of undigested food from the stomach to the mouth. The regurgitated food is then re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out. This condition is believed to have a behavioral origin and its development stems from emotional distress, physical injury, viral illnesses, or other traumatic events. Rumination syndrome is an eating disorder that has been linked to other types of eating disorders.
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Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental illnesses that affect individuals of every age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic group. Despite the prevalence of eating disorders among all racial and ethnic populations, these disorders are often depicted in the media primarily among white, thin, young women. This misrepresentation and lack of diversity further perpetuates eating disorders among individuals who do not “fit” the stereotype.
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Disordered eating has become increasingly normalized and prevalent in our society, making it difficult to discern disordered eating behaviors from an eating disorder. Individuals with eating disorders exhibit disordered eating behaviors, but not all disordered eaters meet the criteria for a full-threshold eating disorder. The difference lies in the inherent preoccupation and distress that the disordered behaviors cause the individual.
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“Let’s go out to eat.” These words often elicit a slew of excuses and triggering thoughts in individuals with eating disorders. For many of us, eating at a restaurant or café is a pleasurable, leisurely activity, but for those with an eating disorder, just the thought of dining out can be anxiety-provoking. Eating out is an unavoidable part of normal life and restaurant exposures are an important part of recovery.
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Eating disorders affect the family unit and community of the individual in recovery. Food is a major component of socialization and, consequently, social interaction can be a significant stressor for individuals in eating disorder recovery. Non-food related activities can help loved ones in recovery feel supported and connected with those in their support system.
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Diet culture has become an integral part of our society. Diet culture is a system of beliefs and socially-accepted behaviors that prioritize body weight and size over health and well-being. Diet culture constitutes an entire industry that perpetuates disordered eating and eating disorders. While diet culture is damaging for individuals from all walks of life, it is especially harmful to those recovering from an eating disorder.
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In a society in which diet culture runs rampant, you’ve likely heard the trendy term “intermittent fasting”. Intermittent fasting has gained traction for its supposed “health” benefits, and is often used as a weight-loss method. Despite its popularity, this eating pattern has little data to support its use for long-term health outcomes. On the contrary, research indicates a connection between intermittent fasting and the development of certain eating disorders.
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The season of love is finally upon us! While many of us look forward to the food-filled festivities that Valentine’s Day has to offer, this sentimental holiday can be particularly intimidating for individuals recovering from an eating disorder. Being mindful of potential triggers and preparing yourself with healthy coping mechanisms can set you up for a positive, enjoyable Valentine’s Day experience.
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