Eating Disorders Can Have Dangerous Consequences

Eating disorders are mental health problem that is not only related to nutrition but also occurs with psychological and physical symptoms. Stating that eating disorders are also among psychiatric diagnoses, Yeditepe University Hospitals Specialist Clinical Psychologist Özge Şengün said, "Eating behaviors that are the opposite of what people cannot control their eating behaviors appear at the point where they control them and have a negative effect on their quality of life. If it is not treated, it can lead to dangerous consequences."

Eating disorders are generally shown to be prevalent in western countries and women through research. Clinical Psychologist Özge Şengün said, "At the same time, adolescents constitute the vast majority. One-tenth of those with eating disorders are men. Approximately 1.4% of women and 0.2% of men develop anorexia nervosa; 1.9% of women and 0.6% of men are affected by bulimia nervosa, while 2.8% of women and 1.0% of men develop binge eating disorders. In other words, binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder."

Risks for Intense Stress Eating Disorder

People who are overweight or extremely thin may have an eating disorder, as well as eating disorders that can be seen in people of normal weight. Pointing out that eating disorders may be caused by psychological, sociocultural, and familial reasons, Özge Şengün, Clinical Psychologistfrom Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital, underlined that the individual's dissatisfaction with their body and obsessive thoughts about slimming may also play a major role in eating disorders. "People with low self-confidence and self-esteem, who have negative core beliefs about themselves, who feel emotional deprivation, who have perfectionist personality traits, who have depression and anxiety disorder, or who are under intense stress are more at risk for developing an eating disorder," Şengün warned, also sharing the following information: "These patients may feel constantly weighed, may feel depression and anxiety, may turn to excessive exercise, suicide attempt, substance or drug use. People with an eating disorder may not notice it, or they may hide their eating disorder from their relatives because they are ashamed of their behavior, feel guilty, and are afraid of being criticized."

Do You Most Often Get These Disruptions?

Özge Şengün stated that the most common eating disorders are classified as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, other defined eating and nutritional disorders and said, "Anorexia nervosa  and bulimia nervosa are two groups of diseases with serious physical problems as well as psychological symptoms among this disease group."  Şengün also gave detailed explanations about the types of eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa: Too Many Anxieties and Fears

Emphasizing that although anorexia patients are very weak, they find themselves overweight due to the deterioration in their body perception and restrict their eating, Specialist Clinical Psychologist Şengün said, "People suffering from Anorexia Nervosa have a lot of anxiety and fear towards gaining weight. They diet a lot, hardly eat at all, and try to lose weight by exercising excessively. Restriction and weight loss may cause an increase in anxiety symptoms and obsessive thoughts."  

Bulimia Nervosa; They Are Ashamed of Their Eating Style

Özge Şengün, who informed that Bulimia Nervoza is a disorder that can occur when people are at a normal weight and is also associated with weight gain anxiety, said, "It is seen that Bulimia Nervoza tries to eat and try to get rid of what they eat by vomiting (because they feel weight gain anxiety and guilt). In the binge eating phase, the feeling that they cannot stop eating and gain control is dominant. They are ashamed of the way they eat, they are afraid of being judged, so they often prefer to eat alone in secret. At the same time, behaviors such as laxative use, use of diuretic drugs, excessive exercise or not eating at all from time to time may be observed."

Regret After Eating in Binge Eating Disorder

An eating disorder is defined as the state of eating too much food in a short period of time than the person can eat at the same time. "It is seen as eating faster than normal once a week within three months, until you feel uncomfortably full, and eating excessively when you are not hungry," said Özge Şengün: "A person prefers to eat alone, after eating at an uncontrolled level, he feels feelings such as depression, guilt, and self-loathing. Because of their emotional hunger, they see eating as a way to relax when they encounter problems, but then regret it."

It Negatively Affects Sleep Patterns

Özge Şengün, who said that people who have limited access to all of the above-mentioned eating disorders but do not fully meet any of them were diagnosed with "Other Identified Eating and Nutrition Disorders", said, "People with this disorder have similar symptoms to other disorders. In addition to these, they may wake up at night and feel the need to eat, and eating at night will cause problems and impair their functionality."

Dangerous Results Can Be Seen If Not Treated

Specialist Clinical Psychologist Özge Şengün from Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital, pointed out that if the eating disorders are not treated, serious health problems such as weakening of the bones, blood pressure and heart problems, muscle loss, anemia, damage to the digestive system, hormonal changes, fragility in the hair and nails, wear on the teeth, depression, and anxiety disorder may occur, and said, "Eating disorders can seriously threaten the health of the individual; therefore, it is very important to seek support from psychiatrists and psychologists and to receive psychotherapy for the treatment of eating disorders. Hospitalization may be required, especially because anorexia nervosa can result in loss of life in severe cases. The main treatment methods include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Therapy (especially in young patients), Group Therapies, Cognitive Analytical Therapy, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Thanks to psychotherapies, individuals with eating disorders can discover the underlying causes of their eating behaviors and become more resistant to life events by adopting alternative coping strategies."

Underlying Reasons Should Be Questioned First 

Özge Şengün, who warned that the underlying causes should be questioned in order to understand the content of eating disorders and nutritional treatment, also stated that "What feelings and thoughts are underlying the patient's eating behavior during therapies, what triggers this behavior and what can be done works on them".
"It is possible to regain eating habits with a nutritionist concurrently with psychotherapies. However, the attitude of the relatives towards the individual with an eating disorder is also very important. Families should not take a critical approach to the weight and body appearance of individuals with eating disorders, but should make them feel valued regardless of their weight and appearance. If they think they are under pressure to be weak, they can offer to get help. They can make eating together in the table setting part of their routine. They must be supportive and helpful in acquiring healthy nutrition and healthy exercise habits. At the point where they think they have eating disorders, they should be directed to seek help from an expert."

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