Eating Disorder Awareness

Eating disorders affect millions of people all over the world today. There are many different types but the main ones include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and also binge eating disorders. All of these disorders happen to many different people for all different reasons. It has been recorded that approximately eight million people in the US have anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and related eating disorders. That number is way too high, and this is why I am talking to you today. So I can spread more awareness to the world about eating disorders.

Throughout someone’s life, society starts to shape them and turn them into the person they are today. The sad thing is society can change a person in a very horrible way. There are thousands of people in today’s world that develop an eating disorder and don’t get the help that they need. Their condition tends to get worse and they usually tend to diverge the concept that they have an eating disorder. Most teenagers go without getting help with the fear that they will be judged for what the disorder did to their bodies.

The most common eating disorder is bulimia nervosa also commonly known as bulimia. "Bulimia affects 4 percent or 1 to 3 in 100 people are affected by this disorder." Bulimia is a very controlling disorder. A lot of the suffers or most of them tend to binge eat and then purge what they ate. They do that so they can still get the taste and the joy of eating, but not have to worry about the number of calories that they are taking into their bodies. Many people don’t know that there are multiple symptoms of eating disorders that are hard to catch. For instance, evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, the presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics. Bulimia seems like it is a better option than becoming anorexic. Well, that is a lie. Bulimia does so much harm to your body, besides that you are losing weight.

Another eating disorder is anorexia nervosa also known as Anorexia for short. This disorder "affects around 1 in 200 people". The statistics of Anorexia are completely shocking. They starve themselves for days at a time without eating a single calorie. People that struggle with Anorexia tend to be repulsive when people start asking questions about it. The thing many don’t understand or even know is that "without treatment, up to 20 percent of people with serious eating disorders die." They take it that far. They feel as though that is the only way for them to be accepted by society is to live in that lifestyle or way. The longer you have had this disorder or the worse your condition is, your chance of survival begins to slim. People with anorexia most times avoid food all of the time or says, "no thank you, I’m not hungry." There are many signs for this disorder even though it is not as common as bulimia.

Finally the binge eating disorders. Bulimia is considered a binge eating disorder, even though not every bulimic victim binge eats. Ones that fall into that category include obesity, bulimia, and many more. The symptoms of a binge eating disorder due take a toll on someone after a long time of doing it. The most common symptoms are:

• Eating large amounts of food
• Eating even when full
• Eating rapidly during binge episodes
• Frequent dieting without weight loss
• Frequently eating alone
• Hoarding food
• Hiding empty food containers

These people tend to put on a lot of weight in a short period of time. It can be caused by many different reasons it just depends on the person it is affecting. For some, it may be a lack of control, once one begins to eat, depression, grief, anxiety, shame, disgust or self-hatred about eating behaviors, and many, many more. People lose their self-confidence due to the weight that they put onto their bodies. This disorder is also very life-threatening. It can kill you if you don’t get the help that you truly need.

Eating disorders affect everyone differently, but know that you are not alone. There are many people out there in the world that are in similar boats. The best thing to do is tell someone and get the help that you need and deserve. Don’t let your disorder define you as the person you are. You have the right to say this is not how my story is going to end. If you need any help, advice, or want to share your story struggling with an eating disorder you can contact me on my Instagram page.

You can always reach me on my email: [email protected]. But also on my website. You are not alone. There are many people out there ready and willing to support you just open your mouth and say the world. Having an eating disorder is a very dangerous life-threatening disorder.

~Natalie Christensen