DISORDERS EATING

In the UK, 1.6 million people suffer from an eating disorder. But when do poor eating habits turn into something far more serious?

When you think of an eating disorder, you may think of anorexia or bulimia and associate it with teenage girls. But disorders in males are on the rise, they affect people of any age, and can come and go. The term ‘eating disorder’ covers any abnormal eating behaviour or relationship with food. It occurs when poor eating habits turn into obsessive rituals, and it can have dangerous consequences. Anorexia sufferers obsess over weight and eat as little as possible. Bulimics, on the other hand, gorge and then purge their bodies of food by vomiting. Eating disorders can lead to a range of different behaviours – sufferers might buy diet pills, use the gym obsessively or use laxatives or diuretics to remove excess water from their bodies.

Signs Of A Disorder

■ Rapid weight loss or frequent weight changes.

■ Feeling lethargic.

■ Obsession with eating, dieting, food, body shape or weight.

■ Binge eating.

■ Vomiting around meals.

What makes eating disorders so dangerous is that it changes the natural way your body consumes food to turn it into energy. If you limit calorie intake dramatically, or eat and then vomit, your body doesn’t get enough nutrients to work properly. The result isn’t just the expected weight loss and fatigue; it can also lead to fainting, hair loss, severe tooth decay, brittle bones or death.

No one knows why eating disorders occur, but feeling stressed or having a negative body image are likely reasons. In a world of perfect-looking social media posts, it’s easy to feel like you don’t measure up. But you shouldn’t try to be anyone other than you.