The Second Deadliest Psychiatric Illness
"There are so many health myths that uphold harmful eating habits and diets!" - Emily Christensen
Have you ever struggled with body image? Felt occupied with the way you look–your weight, your shape, or specific features? Most of us have struggled with our appearance at one time or another, often wishing the reflection in the mirror looked different. And honestly, that makes a lot of sense. We are constantly surrounded by messages about how we should look... Edited advertisements flood our screens, while celebrities and influencers tend to share only carefully curated versions of themselves—often alongside products promising to make us look better than ever. Over time, these messages shape how we see ourselves.
Weight and body shape are common topics of conversation. With weight loss being promoted more aggressively than ever before, it can become more and more difficult to feel at ease in our bodies. There are always opinions about what is the "best" look, even though these opinions will vary between people. Messages about weight and appearance can add fuel to many health concerns, and eating disorders are some of the most common.
In Canada alone, approximately 1.9 million people—about 4% of the population—are affected. And because people don't always report eating disorders, (or know they have one), the true number is likely even higher.
What Are Eating Disorders?
Changes to eating habits can be one sign of an eating disorder. Most times, this means a person is trying to control or limit the amount or type of food that they eat. Some people are more likely to develop an eating disorder.
Those with the biggest risk include:
Dieters (eating disorders often follow a period of dieting)
Women
Adolescents and young adults
Individuals in larger bodies (as they are often prescribed weight loss)
Perfectionists
Those with poor body image
Those with jobs or hobbies that focus on body image such as ballet, athletics, or modelling
While there are different types of eating disorders, many involve a desire to lose weight through the control of food intake.
Common symptoms of eating disorders include:
Spending a lot of time thinking about weight and body shape
Eating very little
Exercising too frequently
Keeping strict routines or habits around food
Avoiding social gatherings that include food
Losing control over eating
Eating disorders are serious conditions that require immediate support from medical professionals. Because they are missing out on important nutrients, people with eating disorders can have many physical symptoms that decrease their quality of life. Things like exhaustion, dizziness, feeling very cold, hair loss, and abdominal pain, to name a few.
In fact, eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of psychiatric illnesses, only behind opiate addiction. This is why it is so important to be aware of signs, symptoms, risks, and treatments.
"eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of psychiatric illnesses,"
Eating Disorder Treatment
Caring for an eating disorder–like many mental health concerns–requires a mix of approaches. Below are some evidence based treatments for support:
1. Talk Therapy
It is crucial to meet with a registered psychologist or other certified mental health practitioner for professional support. Since eating disorders go much deeper than the surface, therapists can help get to the underlying psychological concerns, making talk therapy an excellent treatment to explore.
Cognitive behavioural therapy, often called CBT, is a type of talk therapy that can work well for managing eating disorders. Therapists help clients learn to identify and address the misguided thoughts and feelings that can contribute to disordered eating behaviors. Essentially, CBT guides you to notice and change your thoughts so you can change your behaviour.
Consider someone that thinks “I should not have eaten this, it’s bad for me” after finishing a meal. Through CBT, a psychologist can help them challenge this thought, asking things like "Was the food actually bad? What makes food ‘good’?"
By changing these thought processes, we can start to get a clearer understanding of what our body needs. In reality, most foods are good for us and serve many purposes!
2. Nutrition Education
It is also recommended to have a registered dietician help with eating disorder recovery, as they can provide nutrition education. These professionals can help make sure that all kinds of nutrients, especially those that have been restricted or limited, are brought back into a person's regular diet.
Registered dieticians who specialize in eating disorders can also help by introducing more flexible eating habits, loosening the grip of rigid patterns.
There are so many health myths that uphold harmful eating habits and diets! It’s critical to connect with someone that can give accurate and evidence based nutrition information. They will be the best equipped to advise your diet.
3. Neurofeedback
Research has also highlighted the benefits of neurofeedback therapy in treating eating disorders. Neurofeedback training has been found to reduce food craving severity, overeating episodes, rumination episodes, and restricting behaviour–making it a relevant treatment for all types of eating disorders. Neurofeedback has also been found to reduce eating and weight concerns–alleviating one of the drivers that often leads to disordered eating.
All of these improvements that come with neurofeedback treatment show how important it is as a tool in eating disorder care.
What Comes Next?
There are so many factors that shape the way we see ourselves and the food we consume. Societal pressures, along with ideals and beliefs surrounding weight, control, and health, all play a huge role in the way we think and behave.
When the many messages around us become internalized–that is, we really start to believe them–they can quietly evolve into daily patterns that harm us both physically and mentally.
Eating disorders are serious, complex conditions that deserve understanding, professional assistance, and timely care. They aren't personal or moral failures.
It can be overwhelming to navigate the complexities of an eating disorder, but recovery is possible. Especially when individuals are supported through evidence-based, multidisciplinary treatment. With the help of psychological therapy, nutrition education, and tools such as neurofeedback, individuals can begin to rebuild a healthier relationship with food, their bodies, and themselves.
If you or someone you care about is struggling, reaching out for professional support can be a powerful first step. Help is available!
For additional support get in touch with us HERE or by calling 587-333-6349💙
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20353603
https://nedic.ca/eating-disorders-treatment/
Imperatori, C., Mancini, M., Della Marca, G., Valenti, E. M., & Farina, B. (2018). Feedback-Based Treatments for Eating Disorders and Related Symptoms: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Nutrients, 10(11), 1806. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111806
Arcelus, Jon et al. “Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. A meta-analysis of 36 studies.” Archives of general psychiatry 68,7 (2011): 724-31. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.74
Disclaimer
Our content is for informational and educational purposes and is not a replacement for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you're facing mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Every individual's situation is unique, so use the information here at your discretion. While we strive for accuracy, the field of psychology is ever-evolving, and our content may not always reflect the latest research. Please prioritize your privacy by avoiding sharing personal information in comments or interactions. Your well-being is our top concern, so use our content for educational purposes, but remember to rely on professionals for your specific needs.
