When many people think of eating disorders they come to the conclusion that if someone had self-control they could just stop. This is where the stigma behind eating disorders and addiction come into play. Eating disorders are a physical and mental illness and are not easily controlled. According to the DSM, they are “characterized by a persistent disturbance of eating or eating-related behavior that results in the altered consumption or absorption of food that significantly impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning.” Eating disorders can affect anyone reguardless of weight, race or gender. They cannot be controlled by “willpower”. Many people who are affected by an eating disorder need professional help, and also possible medications. For example, one eating disorder, known as binge eating disorder, is a huge cause of obesity & is looked down upon. People with this disorder are told just stop eating. Medication is now avaliable for people who are dealing with BED, along with different therapies to help focus on the mental illness part of BED.
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Awesome post! Really important topic.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post, I think that people with disorders are just told to stop eating. I think they are so many other things that go into it but people do not look at it like that.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! You are right, individuals dealing with binge eating disorders are told to "stop eating" but you would not tell someone who has the flu to "stop being sick."
ReplyDeleteYour right its not about "willpower", its an mental illness that impacts the individual. I really liked that you used that word because when people hear about eating disorders its common to hear that "its all about their willpower", however eating disorders could cause someone to die. It is not a lite matter.
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