This Is Me

Let’s talk about disordered eating! Disordered eating is a disturbed and unhealthy eating pattern. It includes a range of abnormal eating habits similar to those found in clinical eating disorders. Some examples of disordered eating behaviours are skipping meals, restricting calories, cutting out certain food groups, binge eating or using diet pills. Based on these examples, you might be wondering what differentiates disordered eating and eating disorders.

The primary difference between the two is the severity and the frequency of behaviours, where the behaviours associated with disordered eating are less severe and less frequent than the behaviours associated with an eating disorder.

It can be helpful to think about eating on a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum is healthy eating, in the middle is disordered eating, and on the other end are eating disorders. Due to the nature of the spectrum, disordered eating behaviours can often lead to an eating disorder if they are not properly handled. Disordered eating can also lead to other health concerns such as osteoporosis, fatigue, poor sleep quality, constipation and/or diarrhea, headaches, and muscle cramps (NEDC). If you suspect you or someone you love is struggling with disordered eating here are some do’s and don’ts.

Do seek help fast! Early intervention is the best way to prevent disordered eating from developing into an eating disorder.

Don’t ignore the problem! Ignoring the problem will not make it disappear, and will only further ingrain these behaviours into your daily life, taking longer to resolve.

Finally, please don’t give up! Don’t give up on those who may be suffering, including yourself. It is never too late to seek help.

Have you ever struggled with your body image? Have you ever felt unsatisfied with how you look and feel in your own body? Unfortunately, you are not alone. The prevalence of body dissatisfaction in our society today is incredibly high. One study reports that up to 72% of women and 61% of men are dissatisfied with their bodies. Some researchers are even starting to view body dissatisfaction as a public health problem, as body dissatisfaction has been linked to lower quality of life, mental health issues, and even chronic disease risk factors.

So, why is body dissatisfaction so prevalent? Body image issues have a lot to do with the media. Dr. Anne E. Becker, the director of research at the Harvard Eating Disorders Center of Harvard Medical School investigated shifts in body image and eating practices in Fiji over a three-year period. It was reported that before the introduction of television in Fiji in 1995, only 3% of girls had induced vomiting to control their weight. In 1998, this number rose to 15%, with 69% of girls saying they have been on a diet at some point. These findings are disheartening, but unsurprising considering the mass exposure to countless advertisements glorifying the “ideal” body. These advertisements lead us to believe that our lives would be much better if we possess this ideal body.

Companies try to sell us the idea that we can all achieve better looks and become more confident in our bodies if we follow their diet/fitness plan or use their cosmetic products. According to Susie Orbach (2010), the belief that we can change/improve our bodies has led to even more discomfort in our bodies. Instead of accepting our bodies, we are told that we need to continue to improve them, and that we have a personal responsibility to do so. No longer is our body the vehicle from which we experience the joys life has to offer, it is now a site of extreme discomfort and work.

Industries are capitalizing on our insecurities. The diet industry alone was worth $58.6 million in 2010! The idea that we should be constantly trying to improve our aesthetics is a major contributor to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. For this reason, we need to challenge what we see in the media. We must challenge companies that only promote the homogenized ideal body of a slim figure with large hips, breasts, and muscles. Promoting body diversity and altering the narrative will help people appreciate the body they have been given and not feel ashamed.

Today officially marks the beginning of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week! Monuments and buildings across the United States will be lit up in blue and green to mark this occasion. Please take the time to read up about eating disorders and learn what you can do to help those around you who may be struggling. Since NEDA was founded in 2001, they have been dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and is the leading American non-profit organization advocating for education, awareness and prevention, access to treatment, and expanded research for eating disorders. So, what can you do? Join the conversation and help raise awareness, bust myths, get people screened, and start journeys to healing! Ellen DeGeneres