Breaking The Cycle: Understanding and Treating Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are often seen as issues that primarily affect young adults. While eating disorders commonly emerge during adolescence, they can linger and resurface throughout a woman’s life, including during moments of hormonal change like pregnancy and menopause. That’s why there’s a crucial need for awareness, education, and appropriate treatment strategies for women of all ages. In this post, we will explore the types of eating disorders and how they uniquely affect women, the signs and symptoms to look out for, and how to seek help.

The Rise In Eating Disorders

According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), 28.8 million people in the United States will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, and women are twice as likely than men to develop an eating disorder. Research shows one of the biggest reasons is that a combination of societal pressures about weight and beauty can change brain activity to the point of developing disordered thoughts and behaviors. Brain patterns are formulated during childhood and adolescence. During this time, a person’s self-esteem and development of self-worth are malleable and subject to influence from peers, family, and even the media.  These patterns can continue to affect women throughout their lifespan.

Risk Factors

While eating disorders can present at any point in life, there are certain factors that can increase the likelihood of developing one, including:

• Family history of eating disorders
• Stress
• History of weight bullying
• History of substance abuse (i.e. alcohol or drugs)
• Other mental health issues

Often, those with a history of chronic dieting, yo-yo dieting or excessive exercising may also be prone to developing an eating disorder.

The Different Types of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that involve disturbances in eating behaviors.  They often stem from underlying psychological issues. The most common types of eating disorders include:

• Anorexia Nervosa: Characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight, leading to restrictive eating and an unhealthy low body weight. People with anorexia often have a distorted body image and see themselves as overweight, even when they are dangerously underweight.
• Bulimia Nervosa: Involves episodes of binge eating followed by purging behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise. This cycle of overeating and then trying to undo it can take a significant emotional toll.
• Binge Eating Disorder: Similar to bulimia in that it involves binge eating, but without the purging behaviors. Those affected often eat large quantities of food in one sitting and feel a loss of control, followed by feelings of shame or guilt.

Signs and Symptoms

While most people are familiar with the obvious signs of an eating disorder – such as dramatic weight loss or extreme restriction of food intake – there are other, more subtle symptoms that can be easily overlooked for women.

• Irregular or missed periods
• Mood swings and emotional dysregulation
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Digestive issues
• Avoidance of certain foods (such as sugar or carbs)
• Skipping meals or only eating tiny portions
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Feeling cold all the time
• Hair loss
• Dry skin and hair
• Discoloration of teeth/dental problems

The Emotional and Psychological Toll

Eating disorders take a toll not only on physical health but on emotional and mental well-being. Individuals may struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment, which often prevent them from seeking help. The desire for control over one’s body or eating patterns may mask deeper emotional pain, anxiety, depression, or trauma.

For adolescent women, the pressure of societal expectations around appearance and the challenges of adolescence itself can create an environment ripe for eating disorders. Body image issues, peer pressure, and a desire to fit in can all contribute to the development of disordered eating.

During pregnancy, weight gain is an entirely natural aspect. However, for some women, this can trigger the emergence or return of an eating disorder.  In fact, nearly 1 out of 20 pregnant women are at risk for eating disorders during pregnancy. If left untreated, it can have harmful effects for both mother and baby including miscarriage, preterm delivery, or a low birth weight.

For menopausal women, the emotional struggles can be compounded by the transition into menopause, which can be associated with weight gain and changes in appearance and just generally feeling a loss of one’s former self. This may increase the vulnerability to eating disorders, as some individuals may try to control these changes through unhealthy eating patterns.

If left untreated, eating disorders can contribute to an array of health concerns including bone loss, heart issues, lung conditions, gastrointestinal problems, and more.

How To Seek Help

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, seeking professional help is essential to help break the cycle. It often takes a multi-disciplinary approach with a team of caring healthcare providers. At Axia Women’s Health, we offer a safe, supportive environment to discuss your concerns.

Through our partnership with LinqCare, you can access one-on-one personalized telehealth support from a licensed mental health professional who can help you unpack the root cause of the disorder and work towards recovery and healing. A therapist can help you develop new coping skills and work through any unresolved emotions that may be driving your eating disorder. Click here to learn more or schedule an appointment.

We can also connect you with a registered dietician through our partnership with Simplex Health to help you create healthy meal and nutrition plans to support your unique needs. Your Axia Women’s Health provider can provide a referral and help you connect directly with one of Simplex Health’s dieticians for personalized, one-on-one support.

Additional Resources

• National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) – Offers a free screening tool to help you determine if you may need support
• National Alliance For Eating Disorders – Offers free, therapist-led online support groups
• National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders (ANAD) – Offers free, peer support services to anyone struggling with an eating disorder, regardless of age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or background
• Eating Disorders Anonymous is a twelve-step fellowship working to support people in their path toward recovery