What Are Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphia ?

Firstly, What are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions characterised by unhealthy relationships with food, eating, and body weight or shape. They can affect people of any age, gender, or background, and often involve a range of emotional, psychological, and physical issues.

Individuals with eating disorders may experience intense concerns about their body image and weight, leading to behaviours that can be harmful to their health. These behaviors may include extreme dieting, fasting, binge eating, or purging through methods such as vomiting or over-exercising.

It’s important to approach discussions about eating disorders with compassion and empathy, as those affected often struggle deeply with feelings of shame, guilt, and isolation. Seeking help from medical professionals, therapists, or support groups is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, which may involve a combination of therapy, nutritional counselling, and sometimes medication.

Eating disorders manifest in various forms, each with its own unique characteristics and challenges. Here are the main types:

Anorexia Nervosa: People with anorexia nervosa often see themselves as overweight, even when they are dangerously underweight. They may severely restrict their food intake, obsess over calorie counting, and may exercise excessively. This disorder can lead to significant physical health issues and cognitive impairment due to malnutrition.
Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by behaviors to compensate for overeating, such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives or diuretics. Individuals with bulimia often feel a lack of control during binge episodes and intense guilt or shame afterward.
Binge-Eating Disorder: This disorder involves recurrent episodes of binge eating without the compensatory behaviors seen in bulimia. Individuals with binge-eating disorder may eat large quantities of food rapidly, feel a loss of control during binge episodes, and experience feelings of distress or guilt afterward.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): OSFED includes eating disorders that do not meet the criteria for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder but still significantly impact a person’s well-being. Examples include atypical anorexia nervosa (where weight is not low enough for a diagnosis), purging disorder (purging without binge eating), and night eating syndrome.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Formerly known as selective eating disorder, ARFID is characterised by an avoidance or a restriction of food intake, leading to significant weight loss, nutritional deficiency, and impaired psychosocial functioning. Unlike anorexia nervosa, the focus is not on body image but rather on aversions to certain foods or eating in general.

Compassion and understanding are crucial when discussing eating disorders with those impacted. It’s essential to recognise that these disorders are not choices but are serious mental health conditions that can be influenced by genetics, psychological factors, and societal pressures. Seeking help from healthcare professionals, therapists, or support groups is vital for recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling, know that support is available, and recovery is possible with the right treatment and support network. Encouraging open and non-judgmental conversations about mental health can be a powerful step towards recovery and healing.

YouTube: What are Eating Disorders?

YouTube: Signs of An Eating Disorder?

How to Access Treatment for Eating Disorders?

If you think that you or someone you love has an Eating Disorder it is important that you or they see a General Practitioner (GP) for an initial assessment and discussion about access to treatment. A GP can assess whether you are eligible for an Eating Disorder Management Plan (EDMP) and can refer you to see a clinical psychologist and/or a dietitian. Your GP can also refer you to a psychiatrist or paediatrician if they think it is necessary. An EDMP lasts for 12 months and can include up to 40 Medicare-subsidised sessions with a clinical psychologist and up to 20 Medicare-subsidised sessions with a dietitian. If you are not eligible for an EDMP, you can request that your GP refer you to see a clinical psychologist through the Better Access scheme, which can include up to 10 Medicare-subsidised sessions.

Secondly, What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterised by obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws or defects in one’s appearance, which are often minor or even imagined. Individuals with BDD may spend excessive amounts of time focusing on these perceived flaws, which can cause significant distress and impair daily functioning.

Living with BDD can be incredibly challenging. Imagine feeling consumed by thoughts that your appearance is flawed or unacceptable, despite reassurances from others. This constant preoccupation can lead to feelings of shame, anxiety, and depression, affecting relationships, work, and overall quality of life.

Helping someone with BDD involves understanding that their distress is real and valid, even if the perceived flaws may not be noticeable to others. It’s important to offer support without judgment, as people with BDD often feel ashamed or embarrassed about their concerns. Encouraging them to seek professional help from therapists experienced in treating BDD or from a mental health expert such as a clinical psychologist can be crucial.

Treatment for BDD may include cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) focused on challenging distorted thoughts and behaviours, as well as medications such as antidepressants that can help alleviate symptoms. Supportive environments that foster self-acceptance and understanding are essential in the recovery journey.

If you or someone you know is struggling with BDD, remember that seeking help is a brave and important step toward healing. With compassionate support and appropriate treatment, individuals with BDD can learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

YouTube: Body Dysmorphic Disorder… What is it?