Some people with eating disorders are not aware that they have one until someone else talks to them about it. The complex illness can affect people of all ages, genders, races, and walks of life. What makes it into an even bigger issue is that it can cause a series of problems that can affect our daily lives.
Bulimia can have negative effects on an individual. These can include stress, guilt, and a lack of control. It can interrupt with some bodily processes and even cause serious health problems. Do you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from bulimia, anorexia, or any other eating disorder? Then it is vital to seek professional help asap.
In Westport, lots of experts specialize in eating disorder intervention. It is vital to start an eating disorder treatment plan the soonest time possible. Early intervention is the key to faster recovery. But who are the people at high risk of developing eating disorders?
Adolescent girls
After kids reach the adolescent stage, many changes start to show up. For girls, puberty usually begins by the age of eight and lasts up to the age of 13. It is during this time when puberty changes start to happen. This makes them more conscious of their bodies. If they feel like they are not thin or beautiful enough, they may try changing their eating habits to fit in.
Female college athletes
A study in 2017 aimed to check if participating in athletics would aggravate the risk of developing eating disorders. The study showed an interesting result. Those who didn’t compete in athletics were often discontented with their body shape. Female college students seem more unsatisfied with their bodies. This is the population who is not involved in athletics.
Active social media users
Active social media users are more prone to develop eating disorders. This is according to a study conducting in 2016. Such a form of media can affect how one views their body image. Models, celebrities, and other influencers continuously flaunt their perfect bodies on social media. This is the stereotype examples of how the “perfect body” looks like.
Seeing more of these videos and images have negative effects. More are getting concerned about not having the same body size and shape. To keep up with their idols and achieve the desirable physique, they turn to extreme dieting.
People with mental health problems
Sometimes, individuals with mental health problems can also have eating disorders. Take depression and eating disorders. Those with depression can have symptoms associated with eating disorders. Consequently, eating disorders can also lead to depression.
Those with a perfectionist personality
People with unreasonably high standards are also at risk of developing eating disorders. Experts are not sure which condition comes first. Still, there is evidence that attaining full recovery from an eating disorder is a stronger possibility by lessening the perfectionist tendencies. This is the correlation between perfectionism and eating disorders.
Do you or your loved ones belong to any of the groups listed above? Then know that they could be at risk of developing an eating disorder. By understanding those who are at risk, you’ll find it easier to prevent such conditions from affecting your life.
