WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ANOREXIA AND BULIMIA
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By Namrata Jaykrishna
27th December, 2019
It’s no surprise that eating disorders are on the rise. In addition to beauty and fashion magazines bombarding us with their skewered version of ‘healthy weight’, we now have the digital world—be it Instagram or Snapchat—egging us towards unachievable (read: photoshopped) body goals. Add to it, misconceptions about even the most common disorders—anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa!
I mean, how many times have you heard an aunty say to you (or someone else), “Oh my god, you need to eat something, you look anorexic!” The word ‘anorexic’ is alarmingly misused in our country—It’s not a word you should loosely use to skinny shame anyone.
Anorexia is a serious eating disorder characterised by the intense fear of gaining weight and the consequent self-starvation. While the typical image of an anorexic woman is one with a scarily thin body, it is prevalent in women of all sizes, including those who are overweight. This disorder is ruled by the overwhelming desire to be skinny above all else.
Bulimia, on the other hand, is characterised by binge eating followed by purging (or more uncommonly, by taking laxatives). Women with bulimia generally cannot control their urge to eat, but end up feeling guilty about it soon after, leading them to purge in an attempt to rid themselves of the foods that they’ve consumed.
Besides environmental and social pressures, genetics also plays a big role. However, the majority of cases of these eating disorders stem from low self esteem and the overwhelming belief that somehow being thin will change your life and make you happy.
My research shows that one percent of adult women around the world are suffering from one of these two diseases. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates among all mental disorders and should be taken very seriously. Look for the signs and seek professional help immediately.
PS: Although it is not as common, these disorders also occur in men.
Namrata Jaykrishna is a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied the Psychology of Food and conducted research under renowned professor and author Dr. Paul Rozin.
