It’s all in the head: what eating disorders are and how to deal with them

Imposed beauty standards, constant stress and dissatisfaction with their own bodies – these are the problems hundreds of people face every day. Some people manage to cope with them on their own, while others find it an impossible burden. In pursuit of a mythical ideal, people are increasingly faced with eating disorders – deliberately starve themselves, stop digesting food, eat too much, and then blame themselves.

Arina Skoromnaya, nutritionist and nutritionist and guest of honor at the International Festival of Sports and Healthy Lifestyle SN PRO EXPO FORUM, helped “Championship” to understand what eating disorders occur, what are their causes and how to avoid them.

What is an eating disorder?

Eating behavior disorders (or EBD) include orthorexia, bulimia, anorexia, compulsive overeating, and more. The nature of all of these problems is psychological.

Behavioral problems are often based not only on an obsession with appearance, but also on deep inner feelings. For example, childhood traumas, which, in turn, may be completely unrelated to the figure – often a person with the help of the “outside” trying to deal with the “inside”. However, it is important to realize that proper nutrition and regular exercise will not make psychological problems disappear – they must be dealt with separately. After all, they do not come from the body, but from the head.

In the case of RPP, the group at greater risk is young people – young girls and boys with not yet strong psyche, who are easily influenced by the outside.

The seriousness of eating disorders should not be underestimated: they are really life-threatening and in critical cases can be fatal.

When a person develops an eating disorder, he becomes hostage to this condition – he loses control over his body and mind, so he is not able to notice the alarm bells in time and take action. Moreover, even the close environment can not always understand in time what is happening.

The main types of RPP

Anorexia is a deliberate abstinence from food, starvation and panic fear of gaining “extra” pounds.

Bulimia is uncontrollable bouts of gluttony after prolonged abstinence or starvation, followed by “atonement” – intentionally inducing gagging.

It is not uncommon for both of these conditions to go hand in hand. Including, in the risk zone fall girls, overly concerned about fitness and supposedly healthy lifestyle. Obsession, let HWL or sports, is also a psychological disorder, says nutriciologist.

RPPs destroy both the psyche and the body. Therefore, when losing weight, it is extremely important to establish a complete and balanced diet in accordance with physical activity. According to the fitness trainer, the key to a perfect body is not in restrictions, but in moderation, balance and wholesomeness.

Who treats eating disorders?

Such disorders lie outside the purview of a nutritionist, trainer, or even a nutritionist. A psychologist or psychiatrist can diagnose and prescribe appropriate treatment. And other specialists can get involved later, if the primary physician sees the need.

There are no tips or flyhacks that help to independently cure from RPP. As a rule, the person himself does not even realize that he is ill, and to overcome the disorder he needs the help of a professional. Although the support of family and friends at this time is no less important.

The treatment itself can vary greatly depending on the individual case: RPP is a very individualized issue. As a rule, psychotherapy sessions are combined with the supervision of a nutritionist, and medications are often used.

To date, it is impossible to compile an exhaustive list of factors that can provoke RPP. In fact, it is a complex set of causes, also varying from case to case.

Nevertheless, also in the case of eating disorders, the first step to solving the problem is its acceptance. Only after a person has recognized the problem, there is a chance for salvation.