By Carol Goh
Need support for an eating or body-image concern? Book an appointment, contact us, or WhatsApp us for a quicker response. Related reads: Understanding and Defeating Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Psychotherapy.
Eating disorders go beyond dieting. They are mental health conditions that manifest themselves in severe unhealthy eating habits. Eating disorders may begin with an obsession with one’s appearance, weight, or food.
Causes of eating disorders
Professionals have found that eating disorders are complex mental health conditions developed from a variety of factors – social, psychological, and environmental.
An individual’s personality traits could be a potential cause. Characteristics such as perfectionism, neuroticism, and impulsivity are typically associated with a higher risk of developing an eating disorder.
Societal or cultural pressures to look a certain way could also cause an individual to develop an eating disorder in order to fit that mould. Negative comments about one’s appearance made by family members or peers and seeing photographs of perfectly posed models or celebrities on social media platforms can cause an individual to develop low self-esteem and compare their appearance to others. This unhealthy comparison can result in individuals yearning for a certain type of physique, typically slim and lean, thus increasing the risk of developing an eating disorder.
If comparison is a core trigger, you may also find Social Anxiety and Low Self-esteem relevant.
Types of eating disorders and their symptoms
Here are some of the common types of eating disorders and their symptoms explained. An individual who has been diagnosed with an eating disorder may suffer from more than one type of eating disorder.
1) Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa typically develops during young adulthood or adolescence and tends to affect more women than men. It is characterised by the total or partial abstinence from food and encompasses behaviours such as dieting, an unhealthy preoccupation with exercise, and sometimes purging through self-induced vomiting.
Individuals who suffer from anorexia nervosa often have body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) as well and tend to see themselves as overweight even when they are not. Common symptoms include:
- Constantly expressing disdain for their body
- Restricted eating patterns
- An intense fear of gaining weight (e.g., excessive calorie counting)
- A distorted body image, including denial of being underweight
- Excessive exercise in a relentless pursuit of thinness
- Purging through self-induced vomiting
- Laxative abuse
When left untreated, anorexia can be damaging for one’s body: brittle nails and hair, bone thinning, and in severe cases heart or multi-organ failure.
2) Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is often associated with binge eating. Those who suffer from bulimia tend to have recurring episodes of binge eating followed by fasting, purging, or excessive exercise thereafter. Binges generally happen in a short period and are emotionally induced, commonly with foods the individual would typically avoid. Purging arises due to guilt and shame from overeating or to compensate for the calories consumed.
Common symptoms include:
- Frequent episodes of binge eating and purging
- Intense fear of weight gain
- Preoccupation with appearance, weight, and body shape
- Self-esteem overly influenced by appearance
Bulimia can result in inflamed throat, swollen salivary glands, acid reflux, dehydration, gut irritation, and electrolyte imbalance—which can cause a heart attack or stroke.
3) Binge eating disorder
Binge eating disorder involves eating unusually large amounts of food in a short period, with no compensatory behaviour (such as purging or extreme weight-loss strategies) after. Binges are often triggered by emotional events, with individuals turning to food for comfort. They often feel ashamed, guilty, and distressed after binging; some develop depression from these intense feelings.
Symptoms may include:
- Eating large amounts rapidly despite not feeling hungry
- Continuous weight gain
- Feeling intense satisfaction and loss of control during binges, followed by shame, disgust, and guilt
- Bingeing in secret
- No use of purging behaviours
Individuals with binge eating disorder have a higher risk of obesity, which increases risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Conclusion
No matter the type, eating disorders are complex conditions that typically require treatment to overcome. When left untreated, they can be damaging to the body and may increase the risk of other medical complications.
At Emotional Wellness, we provide professional therapy and counselling in Singapore. In a cosy and relaxed setting, our psychotherapist integrates Schema Therapy, EMDR, Gestalt, visualisation, CBT, and more to help you address root causes and rebuild a healthy relationship with food and body.
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