01/05/2018
Hi Everyone!!
Today I would like to discuss on a very important issue which we often tend to overlook or ignore.
There are so many of our young adults facing these but tend to ignore it either lack of awareness or lack of acceptance.
Many teenagers are facing hurdles constantly due to excess weight. These need not be only social trauma but sometimes an illness which we are not even aware about.
Eating disorders are mainly connected characterized by irregular eating habits and severe distress or concern about body weight or shape.Such eating disturbances may include inadequate or excessive food intake which affects an individual’s well-being.
The common forms of eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder and are affected in both females and males.
These disorders are a combination of many factors like irregular hormone functions, genetics, nutritional deficiency, negative body image, poor self -esteem etc
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological eating disorder. The people suffering from anorexia nervosa have an obsessive fear of gaining weight, refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an unrealistic perception of body image. They intentionally limit the quantity of food they consume and view themselves as overweight, even when they are clearly underweight. Anorexia can have damaging health effects, such as brain damage, multi-organ failure, bone loss, heart difficulties, and infertility. The risk of death is highest in individuals with this disease.
Bulimia Nervosa
In this eating disorder is the person satisfies his cravings by binge eating followed by forced vomiting, excessive exercise, or extreme use of laxatives or diuretics. Men and women who suffer from Bulimia may fear weight gain and feel severely unhappy with their body size and shape. The binge-eating and purging cycle is typically done in secret, creating feelings of shame, guilt, and lack of control. Bulimia can have injuring effects, such as gastrointestinal problems, severe dehydration, and heart difficulties resulting from an electrolyte imbalance.
The major reason for these kinds of behaviours are majorly influenced by culture in media, peer pressure, unrealistic body image of an idol ,irregular hormone functions, fear of social acceptance due to overweight etc.
Though there is a very thin line between these restrictive eating patterns and dieting, the effects of the extreme behaviours are far more devastating and consequential than any ill effects from dieting.
These can be corrected by Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) with the intent of improving overall health and quality of life. The goal of MNT in the eating disorder treatment would be to normalize food intake, establish healthier and normal eating behaviours, and promote the founding for an improved relationship with food by nutrition education and counselling.
It isn’t that every teenager may suffer from any disorders but it is very important we help them accept a healthier lifestyle choice for themselves and be comfortable in their own beauty without any form of
social pressure.