The need to reduce the social stigma around eating disorders

The need to reduce the social stigma around eating disorders

New Delhi, June 26, 2016: A person who has a preoccupation with what they eat, how much they weight and how they look in the eyes of others are often said to be suffering from an eating disorder. This condition is often so serious that the person with the eating disorder may starve themselves, throw up the food that they eat or inflict on different forms of self-harm just to reach a certain ideal body weight. “The incidence of eating disorders is on the rise in India especially amongst the younger generation, given with population’s sudden obsession with size zero. However given the social stigma and societal pressures attached to eating disorders, those suffering from it hardly ever get any actual medical help. It is the duty of the medical fraternity to keep a watch out for eating disorders amongst their patients and counsel them effectively on how eating a healthy and diet is necessary and the serious complications that eating disorders can cause on one’s overall health and well-being. Parents must also be counselled to reduce stigma and encourage acceptance. They must be made to realise that they are a key support system to their child” said Padma Shri Awardee Dr. KK Aggarwal – President Heart Care Foundation of India and Honorary Secretary General IMA. The path from a normal, healthy diet to an eating disorder is sometimes a very perplexing one. While the exact cause is unknown, certain factors may play a role in the development of an eating disorder. This could include emotional issues like low self-esteem or impulsive behaviour. Traumatic events, abuse, or pressure to conform to society’s definition of beauty may also trigger a shift toward unhealthy behaviours Eating disorders may begin slowly, with crash diets or overindulging from time to time and then spiral out of control. There are several types of eating disorders that exist: • Anorexia nervosa: People with anorexia nervosa have an irrational fear of gaining weight. Many of these people see themselves as overweight or obese, even when confronted with evidence that they are underweight and malnourished. They continue to weigh themselves several times in a day and eat in bare minimal quantities. Anorexia nervosa may cause side effects or additional health problems including anaemia, brittle hair and nails, constipation, feeling lethargic or tired frequently, infertility, low blood pressure amongst others. • Bulimia nervosa - People with bulimia nervosa frequently eat large amounts of food at one time, often in private. This is called binge eating. People with this disorder feel as if they have no control over their eating behaviours. To compensate, the person will then engage in excessive exercise, self-induced vomiting, or fasting. He or she may even use diuretics, laxatives, or an enema. The side effects of bulimia nervosa include acid reflux disorder, chronically sore or inflamed throat, dehydration from purging fluids and vomiting, electrolyte imbalance, gastrointestinal problems amongst others. • Binge-eating disorder - People with a binge-eating disorder do not have control over how much they eat. A person with a binge-eating disorder consumes excessive amounts of food on a regular basis, often to the point of discomfort and pain. People who binge may eat when they’re not hungry, and they will often continue eating long after they’re full. People with a binge-eating disorder are often obese or overweight. For that reason, these people are often at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Healthy diet tips • An ideal diet should also be low in sodium and no person should consume more than 6 gm of sodium chloride in a day. • The consumption of trans fat, which is found in hydrogenated oils or vanaspati ghee, should be minimal as it is bad for the heart and reduces the good HDL cholesterol levels and increases the bad LDL cholesterol. • A person should avoid eating out as much as possible since the food in most restaurants and hotels is high on trans fat and usually will be bad for the heart • Refined carbohydrates like white bread, white flour, white rice and refined sweetened cereals and white sugar should be avoided and replaced with options like whole grain flour, healthy green cereals and oat meal • Any sweet item containing more than 10% sugar should be limited. On an average the sugar content in soft drinks is 10%, Indian sweets is 30-50% sugar