MENTAL health issues show up in different ways and in turn affect the way we lead our daily lives. One of those ways is through eating disorders. In comemoration of the start of Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Eating Disorders South Africa (EDSA) explains about the disorder as illnesses that are characterised by destructive eating habits and severe distress or concern about body weight or shape.

EDSA hosts weekly support groups for people who are struggling with eating disorders. They also provide other resources, such as a blog and an interactive discussion forum.  

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The group explained that there are two common eating disorders, which are binge-eating disorder and anorexia/bulimia, and their symptoms differ but can overlap. 

The support group highlights the importance of identifying the disorders so you can heal as soon as possible. 

“The possibility for healing from an eating disorder increases the earlier the condition is identified and treated. As a result, it is necessary to understand the typical warning signs of an eating disorder,” stated the group. 

EDSA gave the symptoms of the two main eating disorders, saying an individual struggling with a problematic eating disorder won’t, in most cases, experience all of these symptoms at the same time. However, to some degree, they will experience a number of the signs and symptoms.

 Anorexia/bulimia

• Adherence to strict diets, irrespective of weight gain or loss
• Habitual trips to the bathroom after eating
• Binge-eating large quantities of food
• Storing or hoarding food
• Consuming diet pills, laxatives or diuretics
• Compulsive exercising for weight loss
• Abuse of prescription stimulants and/or illicit stimulant drugs as appetite suppressants

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Binge-eating disorder

• Consuming large quantities of food
• Continuing eating even when they are full
• Consuming food quickly during ‘binging’ episodes
• Ongoing ‘dieting’ with no specific weight loss
• Eating alone or secretively
• Storing or hoarding foods
• Hiding food containers or other ‘evidence’ of food binges

The support group said that despite the fact that the condition most commonly begins in adolescence, anorexia is increasingly being diagnosed in children and older adults. 

“You can’t tell if someone has anorexia by looking at them. A person does not have to be gaunt or underweight to be struggling. According to studies, larger-bodied people can have anorexia, though they are less likely to be diagnosed due to a cultural bias against fat and obesity,” they stated. 

They further stated that eating-disorder treatment is determined by the type of disorder and the symptoms you are experiencing. It typically includes a combination of psychological counselling or psychotherapy, nutrition instruction, medical monitoring, and, in some cases, medication.

“Other health issues caused by an eating disorder must also be addressed as part of eating disorder therapy, as they can be severe or even fatal if left untreated for too long. If your eating disorder does not improve with conventional treatment or poses a health risk, you may require hospitalisation or another type of inpatient programme.”

A systematic approach to eating-disorder treatment can assist you in managing symptoms, regaining a healthy weight, and maintaining your physical and emotional health.

The group is reachable in the following avenues: call 079 235 7415 or email therapynow.co.za.

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