With the social media boom, you don't have to be an actress or celebrity to gain fame. You can be an adorable dog or a bikini obsessed babe who loves to bare all.
We are living in an era where anyone can gain fame & popularity based on their looks-- thus cultivating a continued body obsessed society.
This body obsession is one of the major contributors to eating disorders. We need to stay extra thin (or try to get there), to stay beautiful so ones followers never lose interest.
Its National Eating Disorder Awareness week and its important to be aware of the different types of eating disorders out there.
Eating disorders are difficult to diagnose because many patients lack insight into their condition or try to hide it from loved ones.
It is quite common among adolescents who battle with developing their own self identity.
The most common eating disorders include:
1. Anorexia Nervosa
This life threatening illness is characterized by self starvation and excessive weight loss. Those with anorexia avoid food and deny hunger for fear of weight gain. Anorexia Nervosa patients often appear very thin and frail. However, there is a variant of Anorexia Nervosa called Atypical Anorexia Nervosa where the patient has the above mentality but is not underweight.
2. Bulimia
This is an eating disorder characterized by binging (overeating) and purging to avoid weight gain. Purging can include vomiting or using laxatives and/or enemas (to induce diarrhea). This condition is tough to diagnose because patients can be of any size - skinny, normal weight, overweight or obese!
3. Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
This disorder is characterized by loss of control in eating. Patients consume unusually large amounts of food and feel that they are unable to stop eating. They continue to eat despite feeling full. Many of us overeat on holidays, but for those with BED, overeating is a regular occurrence. Unlike a person with bulimia, there is no purging after a binging episode. Like bulimia, these patients can be of any size. Binge-eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S.
Are you worried you have an eating disorder? If yes, take this quiz here:
In the next blog I will discuss some of the common symptoms of each of these eating disorders, so that you can recognize patterns of family and friends!
Please feel free to ask any questions ask/follow me on Twitter @Doctor_Deena or Instagram at live.laugh.love.be_healthy!
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