Weight and Eating Disorders

There are significant correlations between disordered eating behaviours and weight issues (underweight or overweight). Eating issues can include binge eating, severe restriction/avoidance of food, purging behaviours like induced vomiting, using laxatives, or excessive exercise. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate among all mental illnesses. 20-30% of the Canadian population with anorexia or bulimia attempt suicide in their lifetime. Eating disorders are affecting more and more young people nowadays.

Besides causing physiological stress or malnutrition on the body, disordered eating causes a lot of psychological stress too. Many patients feel guilty or embarrassed about their eating behaviours, which usually prevents them from disclosing to their family and seeking help. Others are concerned about their body images – whether it’s too obese or too thin, which leads to lower self-esteem. There’s a common misconception that disordered eating only happens in females. Many men today also experience it in the format of feeling not muscular enough, which often leads to over-exercising and mental stress about their body.

There are many layers to the causes of eating disorders. There are genetic reasons that make some people more susceptible to this illness. Culturally, media and mainstream beauty standards can put a lot of pressure on how a man or woman’s body “should” look like. Most of these cultural messages are unhealthy and impossible to achieve. Early childhood experiences in the family of origin may cause some trauma, insecure attachment, and low self-esteem, making it harder to heal from eating disorders. Neurologically, chemical imbalances or impulse control issues may make some people more likely to have disordered eating behaviours. Psychologically, people may have negative core beliefs and thought processes contributing to their negative feelings and eating behaviours. These unhealthy thoughts and beliefs can be effectively dealt with in cognitive behavioural therapy. Some family therapy can also explore how a client’s family environment may contribute to the eating issues. Internal family system (IFS) theory can also help a client reconcile the different contradicting inner parts/voices to form a more integrated self.

If you or your close ones have eating disorders, it’s essential to seek help from mental health professionals. They should also see a family physician and dietitian because eating disorders can cause a series of biological issues to the body due to malnutrition. Sometimes, medication can be combined with psychotherapy to alleviate any comorbid depression or anxiety issues.