Peace Meal covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking. Join host Dr. Jillian Lampert as she sits down with experts in the field and those experiencing recovery for themselves.

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Eating disorders affect every gender, class, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. People from preteens to seniors may have eating disorders. Their struggles with food disrupt the health and well-being of the individual, as well as that of their families and their communities.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are not the only eating disorders. Compulsive overeating and binge eating disorder (BED), combined with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED) are actually more prevalent than anorexia or bulimia.

In the U.S. alone, more than 30 million people will struggle with an eating disorder.

Among adolescents, eating disorders are the third most common chronic illness. Eating disorders are as prevalent or more prevalent than breast cancer, HIV, and schizophrenia. All deserve timely treatment, but eating disorder treatment resources are far less available than those for other serious illnesses.

People with eating disorders are also struggling with other issues, including substance use disorder (SUD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sexual abuse history, depression, anxiety disorder, and other health issues.

Eating disorders aren’t a choice, behavior problem, or lack of willpower. An eating disorder is an illness with biological and genetic roots that are influenced by culture.

People with eating disorders may soothe their discomfort, stress, uncertainty, pain, sadness, or desires with food until their health—and maybe their life—is in danger. Many people who are recovered from eating disorders say their illness functioned as a companion—but that the relationship was abusive and destructive. Eating disorder rituals offered an illusory sense of stability, reliability, predictability, and control. But the illness also had characteristics of an abusive relationship, as disordered behaviors and thinking reinforce misconceptions and beliefs—leading the person to feel trapped in unhappiness and serious danger.

Interacting with a loved one struggling with eating disorder symptoms can be difficult. Family and friends may worry that they won’t “do it right.” Remember, family and friends are important resources for a loved one’s recovery.

In the U.S., someone dies every 52 minutes as a direct result of an eating disorder.

Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any other psychiatric disorder. For females between 15 and 24 who suffer from anorexia, the mortality rate is 12 times higher than all other causes of death, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Anorexia and bulimia can result in heart failure, suicide, early-onset osteoporosis, amenorrhea, kidney failure, pancreatitis, and other serious problems. Binge eating disorder and compulsive overeating can lead to Type II diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other illnesses.

There is a stereotype that only women experience eating disorders. In reality, eating disorders affect people of all genders, including men, transgender people, and non-binary people. Approximately 10 percent of people with eating disorders are male, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Some males with an eating disorder want to lose weight, while others want to gain weight or “bulk up,” raising the risk for steroid or substance use to increase muscle mass.

Gender-expansive individuals—which describes a variety of gender identities that do not fit within the constraints of cisgender (an individual whose assigned sex at birth matches their gender identity) or binary gender identities (woman or man)—can have a higher chance of forming disordered eating habits or an eating disorder for a variety of reasons, including discrimination, stigma, and prejudice. There are specific difficulties that each group within the gender-expansive umbrella face. For example, transgender people may feel pressure from society to fulfill the unrealistic body ideals of their specific gender identity.

The warning signs of eating disorders are sometimes hard to detect, especially since behaviors are often intentionally kept hidden. Watch for dramatic calorie reduction, purging behaviors, uncontrollable overeating, and/or unrelenting distress about body weight and shape. The Emily Program treats all types of eating disorders in people of all ages and genders.

An eating disorder, such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, is a mental illness that affects an individual’s eating habits and can cause severe distress about body weight and shape. A person’s disturbed eating patterns may include inadequate nutrition or periods of excessive food intake. Eating disorders are serious, potentially deadly conditions that can affect any age, gender, or race. If you or someone you love is struggling with food, schedule an eating disorder assessment with The Emily Program today or call us at 1-888-364-5977 for real help. And real hope.

Eating disorders affect a person physically, behaviorally, emotionally, and psychologically. Prominent indications include:

Research shows that 10–25% of the individuals experiencing an eating disorder are male. However, men tend to express their concerns in distinct ways. For example, men may say they want to lose weight to decrease body fat, while women may talk about losing weight to be thin. Men may want to increase muscle mass; women may become smaller. Restricted nutritional intake and over-exercising are common symptoms among males struggling with eating disorders.

The Emily Program helps individuals of all genders struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, OSFED, ARFID, and other mental health and body image issues. Our personalized treatment plans provide support for co-occurring conditions for whole-body healing so you can lead a full, healthy life.

Eating disorders often present with a second disorder, including substance use disorder, anxiety, trauma, or depression. We believe that simultaneously providing support for co-occurring conditions is the most effective approach for a lifetime of recovery.

At The Emily Program, our team of medical providers, therapists, dietitians, and support staff brings decades of experience to addressing co-occurring disorders. We understand the complexity of dealing with multiple mental health issues.

We provide a multidisciplinary and integrative care approach that combines our evidence-based treatment with personalized care. Typically, support at The Emily Program includes:

• Individual and group therapy
• 12-step facilitation (as needed)
• Nutritional rehabilitation, therapeutic meals, and snacks
• Medical and psychiatric services
• Art and yoga therapy

Read more about the link between eating disorders and other mental health diagnoses here.

People struggling with food issues may not show all the signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or compulsive overeating. It’s okay. At The Emily Program, we recognize and treat Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED).

If you or someone you know needs help with OSFED, reach out today.

Not everyone with an eating disorder fits neatly into one group. Sometimes it’s a combination of the disorders, symptoms present to a greater or lesser degree, or a completely unique struggle with feeding, food, exercising, or body image that impairs the health and well-being of an individual. Some conditions within OSFED include:

• Atypical anorexia nervosa (weight is not below normal)
• Bulimia nervosa (with less frequent behaviors)
• Binge eating disorder (with less frequent occurrences)
• Purging disorder (purging without binge eating)
• Night eating syndrome (excessive nighttime food consumption)

All of these conditions pose serious emotional, psychological, and physical health risks. And all of them deserve attention.

Read more about OSFED here. 

Ask for help. You are not alone. Begin your journey to recovery today.

ARFID is more than just picky eating. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), which was previously referred to as “selective eating disorder” (SED) is a disturbance in feeding or eating that results in substantial weight loss (or, in children, a failure to put on weight), nutritional deficiency, dependence on tube feeding or oral nutritional supplements, or difficulty engaging in daily life.

If you or someone you know needs help with ARFID, reach out today.

ARFID is commonly confused with anorexia nervosa due to the shared symptoms of drastic weight loss and nutritional deficiency. However, while some symptoms are similar, the two eating disorders are not the same. The most notable difference is that those with ARFID lack a desire for thinness and obsessive thoughts about body image.

ARFID can affect all populations, regardless of gender, age, race, and socioeconomic status. ARFID is commonly connected to another psychiatric diagnosis, typically to an anxiety disorder or to obsessive-compulsive disorder. ARFID is not the result of a lack of food or the symptom of another medical disorder.

• Those on the autism spectrum are more likely to develop ARFID
• Those with ADHD are more likely to develop ARFID
• Children with severe picky eating are more likely to develop ARFID
• Children with anxiety disorders are at a higher risk of developing ARFID

This eating disorder can have severe health consequences due to the lack of meeting nutritional needs. Some indications include:

• Dramatic weight loss
• Stunted weight gain and height growth
• Gastrointestinal issues that seemingly have no known cause
• Restriction in amount or type of food eaten
• Fear of illness, choking, or vomiting
• Lack of appetite or interest in food
• No body image concerns
• Menstrual irregularities
• Anemia, low hormone levels, low potassium, slow heart rate
• Dizziness or falling
• Muscle weakness
• Fine or brittle nails

Read more about ARFID here.

Ask for help. You are not alone. Begin your journey to recovery today.