Eating Disorders | Turkey Health Services

Eating disorders are significant illnesses caused by uncontrollable eating habits that negatively influence your health, emotions, and capacity to perform in crucial areas of life. 

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are the three most common eating disorders.

The majority of eating disorders entail obsessing over your weight, body form, and food, leading to unhealthy eating habits. 

These habits can have a significant impact on your body's ability to get enough nutrition. 

Eating disorders can injure the heart, digestive system, bones, teeth, and mouth and cause other health problems.

Eating disorders are most common in teenagers and young adults, but they can occur at any age. 

With treatment, you can revert to healthier eating patterns and, in some cases, reverse major eating disorder problems.

Symptoms of Eating Disorders

The symptoms of an eating disorder differ depending on the type. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Rumination disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder are two other eating disorders.

When should you see a doctor?

It might be tough to manage or overcome an eating disorder on your own. Eating disorders can take control of your life. Seek medical care if you're having any of these issues or if you suspect you might have an eating disorder. We can help you connect with the right doctor!

Causes of Eating Disorders

A variety of unclear factors causes eating disorders. 

There are a variety of causes for bipolar disorder, just as there are for other mental diseases, including:

⦁ Biology and genetics. 

Certain people may be predisposed to eating disorders due to genetic factors. 

Eating disorders may be caused by biological reasons, such as changes in brain chemistry.

⦁ Mental and emotional well-being. 

Eating disorder sufferers may have psychological and emotional issues that exacerbate the disorder. 

Low self-esteem, perfectionism, impulsive behavior, and strained relationships are all possibilities.

Risky Factors

Anorexia and bulimia are more common in teenage girls and young women than in adolescent boys and young men. Still, eating disorders can affect men as well. Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, but they are most common in teenagers and early twenties.

The following things may enhance your chances of developing an eating disorder:

History of the family 

People who have had an eating disorder before or whose parents or siblings have had an eating disorder are far more likely to develop one themselves.

Other types of mental illnesses 

An anxiety illness, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder are common in people with eating disorders.

Stress 

Change can cause stress, which can raise your chance of developing an eating disorder, whether it's going to college, moving, starting a new career, or dealing with a family or relationship issue.

Prevention

Although there is no surefire way to keep your child from developing eating disorders, there are several things you can do to help them develop healthy eating habits:

⦁ Avoid dieting in the presence of your youngster. 

Family dining patterns may have an impact on the food interactions that children form. 

When you eat meals with your child, you may teach them about the dangers of dieting and encourage them to consume a well-balanced diet.

⦁ Encourage and promote a positive body image in your child, regardless of size or form. 

Discuss self-image with your child and reassure them that body shapes vary. When you're in front of your youngster, don't criticize your physique. Acceptance and respect messages can help youngsters develop good self-esteem and resilience, which will take them through the adolescent years.

⦁ Seek the assistance of your child's physician. 

Doctors may be able to detect early signs of an eating issue at well-child visits. During routine medical appointments, they can, for example, ask children about their eating habits and happiness with their appearance. These visits should involve measurements of your height and weight percentiles, as well as your BMI, which can provide you with information.