Eating disorders – from bulimia to anorexia

Cynthia Magno

In general, eating disorders are characterized by the presence of imbalances, or behaviors that interfere with eating, in the eating habits of individuals. This interference with eating behavior may come from some of the emotional states that the individual is going through or even from the metabolism itself, which begins to reject certain types of food. Either way, the situation requires specialized attention and follow-up.

There are already categorized disorders of food and nutrition, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, explains Daniele Carneiro Farias (@farias.dani.nutrichef), MD, gastroenterologist, clinical specialist, and master’s in epidemiology.

“Anorexia is when people do not want to eat for fear of obesity, they are people who refuse any kind of food and are stuck all the time counting calories in food and do not want to eat anything. In bulimia, which is usually associated with binge eating, the person eats A lot, usually, very quickly, but soon after, he feels guilty and causes vomiting, trying to eliminate everything he has eaten. A binge eater is really that person who eats uncontrollably, and wants to eat all the time,” he explains.

Vigorexia

“All of these conditions are very serious and we have other sub-components as well, for example, vigorexia, which is the person who is obsessed with physical activity. So, in addition to eating disorders, there are also eating processes that make eating difficult, such as food pickiness, intolerance to certain foods. , and sensitivity to certain foods that can also interfere with eating.”

alert behaviors

Since eating disorders are mixed and of a different nature — those who eat too much, those who don’t want to eat anything, those who eat compulsively, those who eat but immediately throw up everything they eat — nutritionist Danielle Carneiro Farias points out that there are signs And various symptoms of diseases. However, in general, there are certain behaviors that can light a wake-up call for the potential development of an eating disorder.

“What we can say, in general, is that when children, teens, or even adults avoid eating in public, avoid eating with people, or don’t use food as a form of social interaction, that’s something you might suspect,” he advises. “Also when a person has a sign like that one where he has just eaten and is going to lock himself up in the bathroom or bedroom. It is the first sign that we might suspect some difficulty eating.”

The need to remain vigilant for behaviors that may lead to a suspicion of an eating disorder is essential because these ailments can lead to risks to one’s health and therefore need to be treated.

Danielle Farias points out that the health effects go beyond the lack of energy provided by a reduced calorie intake. “When you stop eating in a balanced way, with a variety of food, a variety of colors, a variety of nutrients, your metabolism contains not only energy, but also micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals that will be actively involved in our generations. Metabolic chemicals So when any of these nutrients are deficient, it can be deficient for our metabolism as a whole, as well as lead to other diseases due to nutritional deficiencies or excess food.”

Eating problems – follow-up correct disorders

Treatment of eating disorders specifically seeks to balance the intake of nutrients needed to maintain an individual’s health. Ideally, children, adolescents, young adults and adults should maintain an appropriate dietary routine according to the times, quantities and quality of what is chosen.

“Dietary choices are very important, knowing how to tailor each person’s palatability and preference, and what they prefer [o alimento] Soft, hard or crunchy. In general, then, the nutritionist will work with the psychologist on this eating disorder control. If the patient is a child, the work can be done jointly with the pediatrician as well. If an adult is with a general practitioner or psychiatrist, explains nutritionist Danielle Carneiro Farias.

“Specifically in nutrition, we first need to assess a person who has some signs of an eating disorder to understand if they accept the food, to understand what problem the person is having with eating. From there, we work with dietary strategies to try to control or encourage that person to eat. food, or to understand nutrients, their needs, therefore, in nutritional care with an eating disorder, it is not conventional nutrition.”

In cases where there is an eating disorder, Danielle Farias points out that it is necessary to work to meet the need of this patient, taking into account the difficulty he is facing, always working on individuality. “When there is food selectivity, I am able to provide foods and ways of offering those foods so that the child can develop. But if the child is refusing to eat or has some sort of disorder, we really need individual care to understand the need for how far we can go.” him,” he points out.

“Usually, in cases where there is an eating disorder, there is no conventional dietary prescription, for example, skinfold control and weight,” he says. “Nutrition comes in to guide these nutritional needs, but for the patient with an eating disorder, since it is an emotional and psychological disorder, we first need to gain confidence and understand the need and difficulty to follow through on measures.”

Stay inside – eat turmoil

Eating disorders are psychological conditions characterized by persistent changes in meals or behaviors related to eating habits. When there is a change in the consumption or absorption of food, it affects the physical and mental health of the individual.

By the numbers

70 million people in the world are affected by some eating disorder, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and others. She noted the appreciation of the Brazilian Psychiatric Association.

happening

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are very common among young people. Women are most affected by these disorders, anorexia is most prevalent in people between the ages of 12 and 17, and bulimia is most prevalent in early adulthood.

Signs and symptoms

Generally, it is the officials and the closest people who spot the first warning signs. In this sense, some of the symptoms deserve attention.

– Anorexia

Implementation of diets that have become increasingly restrictive over time, continuous monitoring of product packaging and calorie counting, isolation so as not to eat with the family, and frequent body weight and measurement behavior.

– Bulimia

Episodes of overeating where the person begins to eat very quickly and in large quantities, and goes to the bathroom shortly after eating these foods to induce vomiting or when the individual decides to fast for a long time after eating large amounts of food, in addition to buying large quantities of laxatives and over-the-counter diuretics.

Source: Ministry of Health.