When you think of an eating disorder, not only do you conjure up images of someone starving themselves, but also the other end of the spectrum – namely, binge eating. And yet, even as the best of us understand that there is a psychological challenge underlying the outward manifestation of an eating disorder, we are also constant purveyors of a stigma that is attached to it. People who have eating disorders, whichever kind it may be, feel judged constantly by their friends and families. There is a tendency to feel judged by others for being vain, or shallow – to want to pursue an appearance that they deem fit, or to seek comfort in food. But the truth is very different. By and large, people with eating disorders are reluctant to seek help because of the judgment they face.

To be an empathetic supporter of those who have eating disorders, here are a few things to bear in mind.

Social pressure – A person with an eating disorder is not doing this for vanity or attention when they resort to anorexia or bulimia. On the contrary, they struggle with self-esteem issues and social pressure to conform to what is considered an ideal body type.

 

Body image – There is a common misunderstanding that body image issues affect only women – when the truth is that body image issues are as much a challenge that men and young boys grapple with – and the eating disorder is often coupled with relying on unrealistic techniques to build or sculpt a body to a certain standard.

 

Binge eating – Binge eating and obesity that stems from that is not a result of just an uncontrollable urge or love for food, but rather, a result of a variety of issues that include loneliness or isolation, devaluation of one’s worth, or even stress.

 

Psychological problem – In dealing with eating disorders, one of the key elements to bear in mind is that eating is only just a part of the larger picture. The person with an eating disorder is clearly going through a psychological problem and that needs to be addressed before the manifestation is treated.

 

Reference:

https://www.recoveryranch.com/articles/eating-disorders/public-perception-of-eating-disorders/

http://www.mirror-mirror.org/society.htm