Understanding Eating Disorders And Mental Health
For some reason, eating disorders are said to be linked with mental disorders. According to clinical investigation, there are some studies where eating disorders and mental health are connected.
Eating Disorders
These disorders are defined as conditions that are caused by the abnormal practice of eating too much, eating extremely poor, or some other abnormal eating patterns. These may result to altered mental and physical function. These conditions are becoming a common health dilemma for people of this generation. This is because modern information technology is letting people see too many images of sexy bodies; this is creating pressure on people who want to improve themselves.
Eating disorders are caused by the desire to look their ideal best and so adopt eating patterns that either results to eating too much or too little. Not every person who do not eat nutritiously, however, has an eating disorder. This is why it is relevant for people to consult medical professionals to be able to determine one’s condition and to take the necessary interventions the soonest time possible.
Mental Health
Mental health influences how a person acts, thinks, and copes up with life pressures and problems. Through the years, a person’s mental health can be modified depending on many factors: genetics, physical health, experiences, and life pressures. Nutrition is one important factor that can improve or limit one’s brain development and functions. One’s ability to handle stresses, makes choices and corresponds with other individuals are all manifestations of the soundness of one’s mental state and health.
Eating Disorders and Mental Health
Mental health is associated with the different kinds of eating disorders. Many studies show the connections of the two. Feelings of guilt, shame, low self-esteem, anger, obsession, and such are normally taken out on eating or the opposite. Here are some examples that show how an individual’s state of mind can trigger eating disorders.
• Eating to Reduce Stress – Some individuals eat when they are under stress. This actually works; the problem is if this kind of behavior is tolerated, it may cause one to get used to it to the point that eating becomes abused. If this compensatory behavior is allowed to develop into a habit, the eating disorder may ramify into excessive weight gain or even obesity. This is one of those repercussions that is important to avoid because obesity can lead to many serious diseases. This cannot only alter one’s mental health but can also develop other eating disorders such as the binge eating disorder.
• Depressed not Impressed – Self-perception of body images is one of the many reasons why individuals get depressed with their body size and shape. Depression is a normal reaction when the stimuli are opposite to one’s perceived ideal. However, if a person is always depressed with his or her weight because one sees too images of sexy models and stars, this can trigger a person to avoid food or eating very little amount of food to compensate for their serious desire to lose weight. In addition, this practice can negatively modify a person’s mental health that can make matters worse.
• Unhealthy Obsession – Being obsessed to look like the sexy male and female images in glossy magazines and kaleidoscope world of films and ads is the catalyst that is driving people crazy with weight loss. This sends a person to the gym to over-exercise till they drop and resort to all sorts of diet. This attitude can take a dieter into the brink of many types of eating disorders.
The connection behind eating disorders and mental health are still being investigated and debated upon by many health experts. With all these relationships, it is hard not to believe in the connections. It is still interesting to note what medical science can say about it.
