Understanding eating and weight disorders on World Food Day
Raising awareness for eating disorders in South Africa is important to help struggling individuals and to debunk eating disorder myths.
October 16 marks World Food Day with National Obesity Week observed this week (October 15 to 19).
In light of these days, awareness surrounding eating and weight disorders is emphasised and aims to increase research and improve treatment options.
In a recent press release by Akeso Clinics, eating disorders and the myths associated with eating disorders and individuals affected by the very same were highlighted.
According to the press release, eating disorders are often seen as a ‘lifestyle’ choice, but they are serious illnesses that have a severe impact on a person’s health and everyday life, and can often be fatal.
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Four out of 10 individuals have either personally experienced an eating disorder or know someone who has.
Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating.
Social worker at Akeso Montrose Manor Lauren Aron says eating disorders do not discriminate.
“They are complex mental health disorders that can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex or race, and are influenced by many factors,” said Aron.
Anorexia nervosa characteristics:
Displays a persistent restriction of food intake leading to significantly low body weight; a fear of gaining weight or of becoming fat even though their weight may be significantly low; and have a distorted view of their body weight or shape; or a persistent lack of recognition of the seriousness of their current low body weight.
Bulimia nervosa characteristics:
Displays recurrent episodes of binge eating. These episodes are characterised by eating an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time, and a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating.
Binge-eating characteristics:
Displays similar behaviour to people with bulimia nervosa, eating a significantly larger than normal amount of food in a short period of time, and has a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode.
In all cases other health problems become apparent such as a negative impact on the heart, liver and kidneys, suffering from gastrointestinal distress, like indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea and heartburn as well as struggles with body image, low self-esteem, and suicidal ideations and psychological issues.
Ways to help people with eating disorders include taking down full-length mirrors, getting rid of bathroom scales, discarding of fashion magazines, removing pictures of themselves or others at an ‘ideal’ weight and throwing away clothes that no longer fit but are being kept for when they are thinner, explains Aron.
Eating Disorders South Africa (EDSA) hosts weekly support groups for individuals over the age of 18 who are struggling with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
Email info@edsa.co.za for more information.
Anorexia, Bulimia Anonymous hosts support and outpatient eating disorder programmes.
For more information visit aba12steps.org
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