According to a survey conducted by the American Psychiatric Association, one percent of the world’s population – about 70 million people – suffer from eating disorders.

1. Warning Signs

One of the biggest problems associated with eating disorders is that the person does not admit to having this disease. Thus, it is essential that family and friends are aware of any signs.

Although anorexia and bulimia are the pathologies most commonly identified as eating disorders, there are other examples of these disorders with equally harmful consequences, such as binge eating and orthorexia (exaggerated preoccupation with healthy eating).

Some signs that a person may be developing this type of disorder could be:

– Lose weight quickly;

– Repeatedly leaving the table after meals (towards the bathroom, possibly to vomit);

– Eating too fast too much or too slow and too little;

– Refusal to eat in the presence of family or friends;

– Exaggerate in physical exercise.

Those who suffer from eating disorders (and those who think they only occur in females are wrong) are generally aware that they are taking a path that is not recommended. However, the search for perfection in terms of body lines can become an obsession that blinds the person to the dangers that may be associated. Food thus begins to become a taboo subject.

If, in the case of anorexia, death can result from an unreasonable drop in potassium levels, in the case of binge eating, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular problems are chronic diseases in which the food addict invests every time he devours everything. that appears in front of you.

The difficulty of relating in a balanced way to food reflects the inability to establish a healthy relationship with oneself. Thus, this “emotional hunger” comes mostly from intolerance to painful emotions, or from seeking comfort and refuge in food in order to calm down.

2. How is an eating disorder treated?

Os maiores obstáculos no tratamento dos distúrbios alimentares prendem-se com a falta de reconhecimento e com a negação, por parte do paciente, desta doença grave e progressiva que pode conduzir à morte.

In order for the person suffering from an eating disorder to be helped, it is necessary to recognize and admit it. Otherwise, any help will be understood as an attack that could lead the person to take refuge even further in his “faithful friend” disorder. This “fidelity” entails great suffering and a feeling of impotence, not only on the part of the patient, but also on the part of the family and close people. Families are usually most distressed by the fact that their loved ones are undernourished, due to excess or defect.

However, the real problem is much deeper: the lack or excess of food is only a mirror of the person’s most ingrained and complex issues. These can only be worked on and resolved through a specific treatment for eating disorders.

Here, patients will work on their insecurities, their relational problems with themselves and others, their guilt and shame. Putting aside the pride and arrogance that characterizes your tendency to cover up your addiction, the person will be encouraged to re-appreciate their life and their surroundings.

The treatment of eating disorders aims to help people to develop simple but effective strategies to fight their problem, improving their quality of life from a perspective of Change and Growth.

If there are identifications with some of the behaviors mentioned above, get help. The first big step in healing is recognizing the need for treatment. Our Treatment Centercan help you understand the triggers that lead to image distortion and the difficulty of maintaining a healthy, balanced diet.

SUMMARY

Eating disorders correspond to a set of disorders whose common denominator is an exaggerated preoccupation with body weight, which leads to abnormal eating behaviors, with damage to health. Eating disorders corresponds to a set of disorders whose common denominator is an exaggerated preoccupation with body weight, which leads to abnormal eating behaviors, with damage to health. They are, therefore, disturbances of an emotional and physical nature that can be life-threatening.

Eating disorders can be treated effectively. The sooner they are detected, the “easier” their treatment will be. A recuperação pode levar meses ou anos, mas a maioria dos indivíduos recupera.

Do not ignore this problem, even if it is not directly with you.Always count on us.