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Maintaining a Healthy Body Image

We want to talk about a topic that many of us face, directly or indirectly: our body image and eating disorders and disordered eating habits. Eating disorders come in various forms and affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. They aren’t just about the food we eat but also about emotions, thoughts, and mental health. These issues often hide beneath the surface, and we want everyone to know, not only is it ok to talk about this, but we also NEED to talk about this.

 

We want to talk about a topic that many of us face, directly or indirectly: our body image and eating disorders and disordered eating habits. Eating disorders come in various forms and affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. They aren’t just about the food we eat but also about emotions, thoughts, and mental health. These issues often hide beneath the surface, and we want everyone to know, not only is it ok to talk about this, but we also NEED to talk about this.

  • Anorexia: an extreme restriction of calories, an intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted body image.
  • Bulimia: Binging large amounts of food in a limited period of time until painfully full and then purging to compensate for the calories (typically by forced vomiting, fasting, using laxatives, diuretics and enemas, and excessive exercise.
  • Binge eating disorder (BED): often involves eating large amounts of food rapidly, in secret, and until uncomfortably full, despite not feeling hungry. Feelings of distress, such as shame, disgust, or guilt, may occur when thinking about binge eating behavior. Unlike bulimia, people with BED do not restrict calories or use purging behaviors and may be at increased the risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
  • Pica: eating things that are not considered food and don’t provide nutritional value (e.g., ice, dirt, soap, paper, cloth). Seen mostly in people with intellectual disabilities, neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health conditions.
  • Rumination disorder: when a person regularly regurgitates food they already chewed and swallowed, re-chews it, and then re-swallows it or spits it out. In infants, it often disappears on its own, and in children and adults therapy can help resolve it.
  • Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): a lack of interest in eating or dislike of certain food smells, tastes, colors, textures, or temperatures. It can prevent you from eating enough calories and can get in the way of social functions.

We are here to tell you that there is help available. If you or someone you know is struggling, reaching out for help is a big step towards healing. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are so many experts who can help you build a positive relationship with food, to find balance instead of restriction. By getting support, you can get back to enjoying meals and being kind to yourself. The first step – knowing that you need help, can be the hardest.

If you believe you or someone you know has an eating disorder, help is available! Talk to a parent, guardian, school counselor and seek guidance from healthcare professionals, therapists, or support groups.