8 Astounding Facts About Anorexia and Bulimia

* The following article contains information regarding anorexia nervosa, bulimia and other eating disorders which can be upsetting or triggering for some readers.

Just about every woman I know has an issue with her body. Too fat, too thin, too saggy, too……something! Body image is a massive issue amongst women and teenage girls in Australia, and sometimes it goes dangerously further.

1. Eating disorders are among the most common mental disorders for which young women receive hospital treatment in Australia. They involve an unhealthy obsession with eating, exercise and body weight or shape. Eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia nervosa and other binge eating disorders.

2. About two to three in every 100 Australian females has anorexia or bulimia nervosa, and around four in 100 Australians have symptoms of binge eating disorder. It’s also not uncommon for a person to progress from one type of eating disorder to another.

3. A person with an eating disorder has distorted thoughts and emotions about their body image and self-worth which can lead to changes in their eating and exercise habits to a degree that is harmful to their health and wellbeing. These may include a combination of excessive dieting, fasting, overexercising, using slimming pills or laxatives, vomiting, or binge eating.

4. Eating disorders affect females and males of all ages, shapes and sizes, from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and can have serious psychological and physical consequences. Family and friends of people with eating disorders can also find themselves facing huge amounts of stress.

5. Females with eating disorders are more likely to focus on weight loss, while males are equally likely to focus on increasing muscle mass or weight loss.

6. The reasons why people develop eating disorders vary, but can generally be linked to negative feelings and low self-esteem. It may surprise you to learn that neither anorexia or bulimia nervosa have much to do with food, eating, appearance or beauty. Eating disorders are usually related to emotional issues such as control and low self-esteem.

7. The causes of eating disorders are complex and often involve a wide range of individual factors. The behaviours associated with eating disorders may sometimes be interpreted as ‘attention seeking’, however, they are a sign that the person is struggling with issues and needs help. People with eating disorders often prefer to avoid drawing attention to themselves.

8. Eating disorders can be difficult to detect. This is because the person may actively conceal their eating or exercise behaviours, deny that they have a problem, or find it difficult to ask for help from family members and friends.

Signs of Eating Disorders

• Excessive dieting or overeating
• Thinking and talking about body appearance, weight and food
• Avoidance of social situations involving food
• Becoming irritable and/or withdrawing from friends and family
• Wearing loose fitting clothing to hide weight loss
• Wanting to eat alone
• Playing with food
• Exercising often
• Going to the bathroom after meals
• Difficulty concentrating

The sooner a person with an eating disorder gets help, the better. Recovery from an eating disorder and depression or anxiety requires appropriate support from family members, friends and health professionals. Helping a family member or friend with an eating disorder means providing support in a non-judgemental and respectful way.

The most important step is to encourage the person to seek professional help and offer to assist him/her to find the help they need.

If you, or someone you know, are experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety or symptoms of an eating disorder, contact beyondblue for support, advice and an action plan.

For more information see the beyondblue website.

If you become concerned about your or anyone else’s health please seek immediate medical attention or go to our health hotlines and website post for further resources  https://www.stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/babies/important-hotlines-websites/ 

SAHM takes no responsibility for any illness, injury or death caused by misuse of this information.  All information provided is correct at time of publication.