World Eating Disorders Action Day 2018: Facts About Eating Disorders

Individuals with eating disorders can be underweight, normal weight or overweight

Unfortunately the media and society often portray severely underweight young females as the prototype for having an eating disorder however anorexia nervosa is the only eating disorder that classifies underweight as a diagnostic criterion. Approximately 65% of individuals with bulimia nervosa have a normal body weight or are considered overweight. Additionally binge-eating disorder, orthorexia, compulsive overeating and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) do not have body types or weight restrictions included in the diagnosis.

The relationship between dieting and eating disorders

Changing how you eat and adapting to healthy lifestyle behaviors can be good. However extreme dieting is an unhealthy way to lose weight and although it is true that many individuals who go on strict diets develop an eating disorder, eating disorders have deep underlying causes associated with them that are more than just about food. Many individuals with eating disorders have issues with self-control and body image and use their obsession with food to cope with their underlying issues. Strict diets in general are deemed unhealthy because they have unrealistic expectations and goals.

Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible

Eating disorder treatment literally takes a village, meaning each individual on the large treatment team plays a significant role in eating disorder recovery. From dietitians and nutritionists to doctors, nurses, therapists, and support staff; the treatment works together to develop an individualized treatment plan that is compromised of many different psychotherapy approaches with or without a medication regimen. Some psychotherapy approaches include dialectal behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR.