Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, 16 years old Divya completed her class 10th studies and exams from home itself, due to lockdown. But when the schools reopened and Divya began to go, because of the being unhabitual of physically going to school and with all the stress of studies, she started consuming food and snacks in higher quantities and frequently. After observing this for a while, Divya’s parents worriedly took her to a counselor, where they came to know that she is suffering from an eating disorder.
Not just Divya, there are many other people who do not pay much heed to their unusual eating habits, which may be a sign of an eating disorder. This later can adversely affect one's health.
Dr. Ravish Pandey, Psychological Consultant and Child Counselor, Delhi, explains that there is no one clear reason responsible for eating disorders. Certain circumstances, genetic conditions as well as mental, emotional or social reasons such as stress, desire to lose weight, sadness, restlessness and family or work-related problems can be the possible causes of this disorder. Under normal circumstances, this disorder can be observed more in adolescents.
Types of Eating Disorders
Dr. Ravish Pandey explains that eating disorders can be associated with either eating too much or too little. Hence, two of the most common types of eating disorders are:
- Bulimia Nervosa
In this condition, a person eats more than necessary and is always worried about his/her weight. These people are unable to control their food consumption and then when they feel guilty about eating too much, they begin dieting and exercising too much to digest the food. Also, in severe cases, the person intentionally tries to puke out everything he/she ate, so that that food does not affect their diet. - Anorexia Nervosa
People having anorexia nervosa are always worried about gaining weight. This is why the person starts eating lesser quantities of food. As a result, the person begins to lose weight and body mass over time, which makes him/her feel weak and dizzy. This problem is more common in people who suffered from obesity in childhood.