Psychological eating disorders are among the most common disorders recently among adolescents and adults, as they clearly affect mental and physical health due to pressures associated with non-acceptance of one's external appearance or societal pressure.
With the advancement of science, there are now many treatment methods and solutions that help in recovery and restoring a healthy and balanced body shape, while improving the patient's mood and restoring their self-confidence.
Concept of Psychological Eating Disorders
They are behavioral and mental disorders characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviors that occur as a result of distressing thoughts or feelings towards body shape, image, or weight, which is reflected in their dietary behavior or mental health.
Different Types of Eating Disorders
The most prominent types include:
Anorexia Nervosa: The person refrains from eating for fear of weight gain.
Bulimia Nervosa: Recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food followed by feelings of guilt and compensatory behaviors such as intentional vomiting or use of laxatives.
Binge Eating Disorder: Episodes of excessive eating accompanied by feelings of guilt without performing any compensatory behaviors.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Refusal to eat certain types of food without fear of weight gain.
Night Eating Syndrome: Consuming large amounts of food during the night with a lack of control over eating behavior.
Causes of Psychological Eating Disorders
The causes of psychological eating disorders are numerous. The most important of these causes are:
Psychological Causes:
Suffering from chronic anxiety or depression.
Mood disorders.
Experiencing psychological or nervous stress.
Social Factors:
Exposure to bullying or negative comments about body shape or weight.
Societal pressure.
Lack of self-confidence or low self-esteem.
Biological Factors:
A disruption in brain chemistry.
A family history of eating disorders or depression.
Symptoms of Eating Disorders
Symptoms vary depending on the type of disorder, including:
Psychological Symptoms:
Depression and chronic anxiety.
Intense fear of weight gain.
Persistent guilt about eating.
Physical Symptoms:
Increase or loss in weight.
Constant feeling of fatigue or weakness.
Menstrual cycle disturbances.
Behavioral Symptoms:
Loss of appetite.
Eating large quantities of food.
Eating with inappropriate dietary behavior.
Treatment Methods for Psychological Eating Disorders
Treatment methods are diverse. The most important include:
Psychotherapy and Behavioral Therapy: Considered one of the most important treatment methods as it helps the patient change their thoughts and behaviors related to food, reducing compulsive eating episodes.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps in controlling impulsive behaviors.
Medication: Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are used to calm episodes and improve the patient's mood.
Nutritional Therapy: Helps in setting appropriate and healthy nutrition plans to gradually compensate for weight loss.
Psychotherapy and Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders
Psychotherapy and behavioral therapy are considered among the most important steps in the treatment plan that contribute to accelerating the recovery journey, as they help the patient understand their emotions and thoughts causing unhealthy behaviors. Among the most important psychotherapy and behavioral therapy approaches are:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps in correcting distorted thoughts about body shape or weight.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Contributes to regulating emotional or impulsive behaviors towards food.
Restoring the patient's self-confidence.
Medication for Psychological Eating Disorders
Medication is not considered the primary solution to eliminate psychological eating disorders, but it helps in alleviating accompanying symptoms, preventing complications, and improving the patient's mental state. These medications include:
Antidepressants and medications for chronic anxiety.
Appetite-stimulating medications to restore body weight in a healthy manner.
Medications that regulate neurotransmitters in the brain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can one recover completely from eating disorders?
Yes, complete recovery is possible after adhering to an appropriate and healthy treatment plan.
Do strict diets cause eating disorders?
Strict dietary regimens and obsession with weight loss may cause some eating disorders and lead to unhealthy behaviors.
Article Summary
Psychological eating disorders are not just dietary disorders; they are complex disorders influenced by several factors, the most important being psychological and social factors. These disorders usually appear in the form of abnormal behaviors towards food, affecting mental and physical health. Therefore, it is important to notice early symptoms and follow an appropriate plan for treatment.