Let’s get real. Conversations about eating disorders and body image are tough and can be uncomfortable, but these are issues which need to be discussed and addressed properly. That is why Let’s Get Real is the theme for this year’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is the week of February 25 to March 4, and the National Eating Disorder Association is focusing on raising awareness, starting real conversations, and highlighting the stories which may not always be told about these disorders. The main purpose of this week is to provide everyone with the support they need regardless of whether or not they match old stereotypes.
A brief overview of eating disorders:
Eating disorders are mental illnesses which can affect people of every age, sex, gender, race, and socioeconomic group. Typically, the most talked about eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia, but there many others which affect countless people everyday.
- Anorexia: clinically known as anorexia nervosa, it is characterized by restriction of energy intake relative to requirements, leading to significantly low body weight. Atypical anorexia can also occur where the individual may not be underweight despite significant weight loss. Atypical anorexia is just as serious.
- Bulimia: clinically known as bulimia nervosa, it is characterized by cycles of binge eating and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives to “undo” the binge.
- Binge Eating Disorder: characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food, but not regularly using compensatory measures, as well as feeling a loss of control during the binge. This is the most common eating disorder in the United States.
- Orthorexia: characterized by an obsession with”clean-eating”. This includes compulsively checking nutritional labels, cutting out a number of food groups, and showing high levels of distress when “healthy” foods aren’t available. Although being concerned about the nutritional quality of your food is important, the fixation is what becomes damaging.
There are many more eating disorders classified under Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder, Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder, and Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. More information on the many different types of eating disorders can be found online.
Looking at a list of clinical diagnosis can be overwhelming, but it is important to know the telltale signs of eating disorders, so you can identify if a loved one, or yourself, may need help. There are many emotional as well as physical symptoms which accompany eating disorders. The most obvious mental sign is that they become preoccupied with their weight or dieting, and food is becoming their primary concern. Physical symptoms may be more difficult to spot at first, however fluctuations in weight (up or down) can be a sign, as well as stomach cramps, difficulty concentrating, and irregularities in periods for women.
By the numbers:
- National surveys estimate that 20 million women and 10 million men in America will have an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
- Black teenagers are 50% more likely than white teenagers to exhibit bulimic behavior, such as binging and purging (Goeree, Sovinsky, & Iorio, 2011).
- Gay males are thought to only represent 5% of the total male population but among males who have eating disorders, 42% identify as gay.
- Gay males were seven times more likely to report binging and 12 times more likely to report purging than heterosexual males.Females identified as lesbian, bisexual, or mostly heterosexual were about twice as likely to report binge-eating at least once per month in the last year.
- 13% of women over 50 engage in eating disorder behaviors.
- 16% of transgender college students reported having an eating disorder.
When looking out for people, it is important to acknowledge those who don’t fit the stereotype for having an eating disorder. All of these statistics show that eating disorders are prevalent in all areas of our society. These illnesses are the greatest killers of all mental health issues, and should be taken seriously, regardless of the patient. There are many great resources available to help people of every gender, race, and age overcome their struggle. To begin with, the National Eating Disorder Association has an incredible website with many resources for those suffering, as well as those whose loved ones are suffering. They have screening tests as well as helplines for those who are in severe need.
Most importantly, there are many resources on campus that anyone can utilize. UConn has their very own Eating Disorder Support Team, which provides students with coordinated care that includes medical evaluation, psychiatric and psychological evaluation, nutritional counseling, and women’s clinic services. The UConn Student Health Center also offers group counseling in conjunction with the individual therapy from the Support Team. For more information visit the Student Health services website.
All of this information is very important, and opening up conversations about the real issues with everyone, not just those who fit the stereotype, can help countless individuals feel empowered enough to reach out and receive the help which they deserve. One of the most important points and goals of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is to promote healthy body image and other ideas which can be spread to help prevent the development of eating disorders. There are prevention programs, such as The Body Project, which are group-based interventions for women and girls that give them a platform to confront unrealistic body ideals society has created.
Research has shown that when people discuss the “appearance-ideal”, the challenges that they are facing, or the pressure which they feel, it makes them feel better about their bodies. This fact is why it is essential for more conversations to start about our bodies, and it is time for us to “get real” about eating disorders. Recovery begins with admitting the issue and feeling comfortable getting help, and prevention begins with spreading awareness and positive body images.
So this week, start the hard conversations with your friends. Explore the resources offered. Be mindful of the comments you make. And most importantly, remember to love yourself.