| The human body functions using a set of | | | | supervision, as well as medication. |
| inter-connected activities and processes all of | | | | Anorexia nervosa may be defined as a 'non-eating |
| which combine together to create the natural | | | | disorder'; most women and some men are so |
| rhythms of our day-to-day existence. When this | | | | obsessed with the idea of staying thin that they |
| innate balance is disturbed, we experience | | | | drastically reduce their food intake. The constant |
| conditions that are medically described as | | | | fear of obesity governs all their food habits; their |
| 'disorders'. When the physiological equations are | | | | lives are more determined by what others may |
| disturbed, the common manifestations of the | | | | think, rather than by their own convictions relating |
| imbalance are in the areas of sleep and food | | | | to food and nutrition. Apart from unhealthy weight |
| intake. The most widely accepted signs of | | | | loss, such people suffer from irritability, fatigue, |
| physical wellness are normal appetite and sound | | | | low energy levels, disruption of normal body |
| sleep; conversely, when a person has an irregular | | | | processes, as well as low self-evaluation. |
| appetite or sleeps badly, he is generally diagnosed | | | | Bulimia nervosa is a condition where a person |
| as 'unwell'. | | | | over eats, feels guilty and ashamed about it and |
| Eating disorders affect millions of people in today's | | | | subsequently attempts to correct the excess |
| world and are a by-product of the stress and | | | | with purgatives, diuretics or exercise. Such people |
| strain of modern life. The condition called an eating | | | | alternate between bouts of eating and purging, |
| disorder, or EDR, as it is referred to, occurs in | | | | thus subjecting their bodies to extreme stress. |
| various forms. It is commonly thought that an | | | | Bulimia nervosa is related to social perceptions |
| eating disorder is over eating, but this is not true; | | | | relating to body weight, appearance and other |
| neither do the disorders relate to the appetite or | | | | image-related factors; people suffering from the |
| digestive system of the individual. The underlying | | | | condition indulge in secretive eating, are subject to |
| reasons are very often psychological, sociological | | | | depression and weakness and constantly seek |
| or related to peer perceptions. | | | | approval and acceptance from others. |
| Some people suffer from eating disorders owing | | | | Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia nervosa, |
| to persistent depression, loneliness, low | | | | with the difference being that indiscriminate eating |
| self-esteem or anxiety. Sometimes the disorder is | | | | is not followed by purging. Such people indulge in |
| the result of frustration and is born out of a | | | | excessive eating often without any reference to |
| perceived failure to meet the so-called social | | | | appetite, eat rapidly, suffer from guilt pangs and |
| standards relating to weight, figure and good | | | | low self worth. |
| looks. These standards are creations of cosmetic | | | | Compulsive eating is characterized by uncontrolled |
| and 'wellness' companies who relentlessly | | | | consumption and generally starts in childhood; |
| broadcast the message that a person who does | | | | often it is the body's way of coping with tension |
| not conform to their prescribed standards for a | | | | and trauma. Children living in an environment of |
| perfect figure has no place in today's society. | | | | domestic discord or violence often resort to over |
| However, the physiological fact is that each | | | | eating to block out the emotional stress. In some |
| person's constitution is different and it is neither | | | | cases overeating is a case of plain personal and |
| possible nor desirable to conform to the | | | | parental negligence and leads to obesity and a |
| advertised norms. These advertising strategies | | | | host of health issues in adult life. |
| have the unfortunate consequence of making | | | | There are several lesser known eating disorders |
| many people lose faith in their intrinsic worth and | | | | that do not fall into any specific category, but are |
| chase the illusory ideal of perfect looks, leading to | | | | equally harmful to health; the one common factor |
| eating disorder. In some people the condition is | | | | is that all of them represent in some way the |
| also brought on by family and relationship | | | | individual's troubled response to personal and social |
| problems, emotional diffidence or trauma. | | | | pressures. Apart from clinical and medical |
| There are several irregular or abnormal eating | | | | treatment, social and educational institutions can |
| habits that fall under the definition of disorders. | | | | do much to prevent eating disorders. This can be |
| The most common forms are anorexia nervosa, | | | | achieved by instilling healthy food habits in children |
| bulimia nervosa, compulsive over eating and binge | | | | at an early age, creating awareness about |
| eating disorder, as well as unspecified eating | | | | nutritional eating and above all, by inculcating in |
| disorders. Most of these conditions are caused by | | | | them a sense of self worth and self-esteem not |
| reasons other than totally physical and hence can | | | | related to extraneous factors such as weight and |
| be treated with a combination of individual or | | | | appearance. |
| group counseling, nutritional guidance and | | | | |