Eating Disorders

By Clare Smart, LifeWorks Counsellor

Eating Disorders

Food and eating play an important part in all our lives.

We all vary in the types of food that we like to eat, how much we eat and when we like to eat. What is certain however is that food is essential for good health. Most people try a different eating pattern at some point in their lives, maybe becoming Vegetarian or following a diet to lose some weight or to improve health.

Problems with food can begin when it is used to cope when we have negative or unpleasant feelings, for example when we feel bored, anxious, angry, lonely or sad. Anyone can develop an eating disorder regardless of age, sex, culture or other background.

What are Eating Disorders?

Eating Disorders are a group of conditions characterised by a person's abnormal eating habits and extreme emotions, attitudes and behaviours surrounding food. They are caused by a combination of factors (biological, psychological and environmental) which lead you to feel unable to cope with things. People with an eating disorder often say that the eating disorder is the only way they feel that they can stay in control of their life. The most common Eating Disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is the loss of the ability to allow yourself to satisfy your appetite by restricting food and drink and sometimes by exercising excessively. A person with anorexia will lose a significant amount of weight and also experience other symptoms, some of which may be difficult for the person to recognise in themselves.

These include

Constipation and abdominal pain

Dizziness and fainting

Bloated face, ankles and stomach

Downy hair on the body

Poor circulation and feeling cold

Dry, rough skin

Loss of periods

Loss of interest in sex

Brittle bones

Intense fear of weight gain

Rigid and obsessive behaviour and thinking about food

Distorted perception of shape and weight

Denial of any problem

Restlessness

Mood swings

Vomiting/laxative use

Severely restricted/no eating

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is episodes of bingeing (eating excessive amounts of food, usually high in calories, carbohydrate and fat in one sitting) followed by an urge to immediately get rid of the food by purging (vomiting, laxatives, fasting, exercising excessively).

It is usually more difficult for others to recognise as the weight changes are less dramatic than in Anorexia and as a result, it can persist for many years undetected. People with Bulimia become reliant on controlling food and eating as a way of coping with unpleasant emotions and feelings.

Signs of Bulimia include:

Weight changes

Sore throat, bad breath

Tooth decay

Swollen glands (round face)

Poor skin

Hair loss

Irregular periods

Loss of interest in sex

Tiredness

Risk of heart problems

Excessive exercise

Hoarding/stealing food

Uncontrollable urges to binge

Obsessive about food

Distorted perception of shape and weight

Mood swings

Anxiety, depression, low self esteem, isolation, helplessness, loneliness

Bingeing and vomiting

Laxative/enema/diuretic use

Periods of fasting

Secrecy

Reluctance to socialise

How can Eating Disorders be treated?

Eating disorders require some medical tests to assess the level of physical risk and harm to the individual. This usually involves blood tests and checking heart and other organ function as well as a dental check.

If not treated, an eating disorder can have a severely negative impact on your job or schoolwork and also disrupt relationships with friends and family. The physical effects of an eating disorder can sometimes be fatal. Treating an eating disorder requires a degree of motivation from the individual and sometimes medication such as antidepressants can be indicated.

You can help yourself by following a balanced meal plan and eating at regular meal times. Also keeping a diary of your food intake along with your thoughts and feelings can be useful.

Specific types of Counselling and Psychological therapy have been proven to be of most benefit in treating eating disorders, especially cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

How can Counselling help if I have an Eating Disorder?

Counselling provides a safe space for you to talk about your thoughts and feelings. It helps you to understand how the problem started and how you can change some of the ways that you think and feel about things. The counsellor will help you to talk about things in a way that helps you to cope with the situation and builds your self esteem.

Cognitive behavioural therapy looks at the links between your thoughts, feelings and actions in relation to the eating disorder and other associated problems and the counsellor will help you to understand these and to move forwards to developing healthy eating patterns and ways of coping with negative thoughts and feelings.

If you would like to make an appointment to talk about an eating disorder, please contact Clare at LifeWorks.

Clare Smart - Counsellor
Lifeworks,
Dubai

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