Eating Disorders and Control
A multitude of holidays are centered around food or sharing meals with loved ones. Therefore, this time of year can be incredibly challenging for those navigating disordered eating behaviors as there are a plethora of mixed societal messages about body image, nutrition, and one’s relationship between the two. Nevertheless, the root of eating disorders isn’t solely about image but also often tied to people feeling out of control in their lives and coping through something they very much can control – food – whether that be diligently counting calories, meticulously measuring portions, binging and/or purging, or refusing food altogether.
Eating Disorders
Approximately nine percent of Americans will develop an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders impact not only the physical health but also the mental health of whoever experiences them. The most common disordered eating behaviors involve restriction, binging, and purging. Anorexia nervosa, for example, which is characterized by self-starvation and a severe fear of weight gain, has the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition as it can lead to serious health effects like organ failure. In fact, ten percent of those with anorexia die within ten years of acquiring the condition, and twenty percent die within twenty years. Symptoms of eating disorders can manifest as mood swings, fatigue, fainting, hair loss, hot flashes, and unexplained weight changes. Behavioral factors can look like overeating in a short amount of time, restrictive eating, avoidance of certain foods or food in general, laxative misuse or forced vomiting after meals, compulsive exercise, frequent bathroom breaks after eating, social isolation and withdrawal, and food rituals such as prolonged chewing, eating in secret, and hiding food or throwing it away.
The “Control” Connection
When life feels uncertain, limiting or restricting one’s food intake, binging and purging, or refraining from eating at all can be a way of creating a false sense of control, order, predictability, and security. While the intention may stem from one’s desire to control a particular aspect of their life, the eating disorder itself can end up controlling the individual instead. Beyond a need for control due to experiencing trauma, there are numerous risk factors for developing eating disorders such as genetics or family history of eating disorders, brain chemistry, cultural and social ideas, going through major life transitions, being perfectionistic, and other underlying mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Eating Disorder Treatment
Despite how serious eating disorders can be, treatment is possible. The best treatment modalities tackle all angles of an eating disorder through psychotherapy, medication, and nutrition counseling. Cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy are both evidence-based treatments that can be effective in eating disorder recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating behaviors, body image, or control-related issues, consider reaching out to Embrace Therapy for a consultation with a qualified, compassionate mental health professional or to receive additional resources and support
