Causes and Treatment of Anorexia and
Bulimia
Anorexia and Bulimia are eating
disorders that can be life-threatening if not curbed early. People who have
anorexia reduce their food intake to the barest minimum, while those with
bulimia eat excessively for a short time, after which they try to prevent
themselves from gaining weight by purging or by trying other unhealthy means.
As much as these disorders are
related to physical health because they lead to malnutrition, we cannot
neglect the psychological effects that result in them and the aftermath of
these disorders on the affected person’s mental health.
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Anorexia patients fear gaining
any slight weight, not to talk of obesity, and they have a warped view
of body weight. So, to remain slim, they starve themselves, which then results
in abnormally low body weight, while bulimia patients eat a large amount of
food with no control over the food, then they try to get rid of the excess
calories in an unhealthy way. This shows that these eating disorders are not
just about the physical body only.
Causes of Anorexia and Bulimia
Although the exact causes of
these disorders are unknown, there are some factors that contribute to one
having any of these disorders, such as:
1.
Dieting
People who obsess over dieting
are at a greater risk of developing eating orders like anorexia and bulimia.
Bulimia patients have what we call binge episodes, which make them eat a lot of
food in a short period and then seek unhealthy means to get rid of the calories.
And these episodes can be triggered by a low self-image, stress, food, and even
boredom.
2.
Biological Factors
Obesity can lead to either of
these eating disorders. Not only this, genetic changes and genetic traits like
perfectionism, perseverance, and sensitivity can push one to develop these
eating disorders. Also, a history of eating disorders in a family should not be
taken lightly.
3.
Psychological Factors
Depression, substance abuse, anxiety
disorders, traumatic incidents, obsessive-compulsive personality traits,
extreme drive for perfectionism, poor self-image, and bullying are
psychological factors that can lead to these eating disorders.
Treatment of Anorexia and Bulimia
Since these eating disorders
are directly linked to our psychology, the clinician’s advice to treating it or
preventing it is going for therapy. Demi Lovato says: “eating disorders are
serious mental illness, not lifestyle choices.” Therefore, it is important to
seek professional help when you discover you or a loved one has any of these
eating disorders.
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