About Eating Disorders
Within this page I’ll be providing some information from various books / websites I have researched whilst trying to understand eating disorders in adults, particularly men. The information I provide is not an exhaustive list and I want to reiterate that this does not constitute or replace the need for professional medical advice and/or support. Eating disorders cover a broad range of conditions and they can vary considerably in their presentation, particularly when it comes to children. Given that I suffer with atypical anorexia, much of my research has been trying to understand my own condition as an adult male.
Eating Disorders are not always about food, at least often not at the start. A loss of control and/or low self esteem can sometimes be triggers for their commencement. A lot of people compare eating disorders to addiction. Often, those who end up problematically drinking or misusing substances didn’t start out drinking a bottle of vodka a day or injecting heroin. It is generally a gradual escalatory process which is often triggered/influenced by life events. There are of course exceptions to this.
There is a fine balance between a diet and an eating disorder. Those on a diet will typically:
Admit to being on a diet and will be happy to discuss how the diet is going including when it is going well / not so well.
Admit to having cravings for certain foods.
Have a reasonable and realistic weight loss goal.
Feel fulfilment went reaching a certain weight and be content with the target they have reached.
Will try to steer clear of temptations / situations where they might be tempted to ‘break’ their diet but will not be particularly phased if they do ‘break’ it.
Be willing to put their diet on hold for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas.
Be willing to seek the support of others in helping them on their weight loss journey.
Work to a schedule such as looking to lose X amount of weight before a holiday.
Generally be quite inconsistent with weight loss. Some weeks decreasing and other weeks increasing.
Often fail. The vast majority of diets are given up quickly and lost weight is eventually regained.
Recognising the broad range of eating disorders, some general signs / symptoms could include:
Spending a lot of time worrying about their weight / shape.
Spending a lot of time thinking about food and / or planning meals.
Avoiding social occasions when food might be involved.
Eating very little food or conversely with some conditions, eating huge quantities behind closed doors.
Making themselves sick or taking laxatives / other drugs to assist with weight loss.
Excessively exercising.
Having very strict habits and/or routines over food.
Change in mood such as being withdrawn, anxious or depressed.
Those with anorexia will typically:
Deny being on a weight loss diet.
Deny craving specific foods.
Attempt to deny or play down weight loss.
Not be distressed by the proximity of food and actually quite enjoy being around it.
Become obsessed with food. Often people with anorexia will start to take an increased interest in cooking for themselves and others. They can spend a lot of time planning meals and visiting Supermarkets.
Obsessively calorie count and often begin to exercise to ‘earn’ food.
Become obsessed with the idea of being thin and have a phobia of putting on weight / becoming ‘fat’.
Never break the ‘rules’ of their ‘diet’ and become really distressed about the prospect of doing so.
Excessively exercise – particularly men.
Remember there is a wide spectrum of eating disorders. Just because you don’t tick anything/everything on the above lists doesn’t necessarily mean you do or don’t have an eating disorder. Some people (for example those that body build) will obsessively calorie count and strictly follow a regimen of exercise and strict eating. Does this constitute an eating disorder? Even though it probably ticks off a lot of things on the above lists it doesn’t necessarily. There are a lot of physical signs and symptoms to look out for too.
Risk factors associated with eating disorders (not an exhaustive list and in no particular order):
Being an individual who identifies as LGBTQ
Working in an occupation where appearance / weight is seen as important. This could include athletes, dancers and models.
Working in a high stress job role – for example the emergency services.
Be a high achiever / perfectionist
Be autistic (potentially high functioning / undiagnosed)
Family history of eating disorders
History of abuse and/or trauma
Low self esteem
Existing mental health condition
Significant life changes / transitions