“I’m fat,” says a teenager in front of the mirror, with a voice full of insecurity. It’s tempting to quickly reply, “What’s up?” in an attempt to comfort her and allay her worries. However, this response, while well-intentioned, does not address the depth of the problem. You can actually invalidate your feelings and close the door to a crucial conversation about your emotional and physical well-being. Therefore, it is essential to understand the complexity of Eating Disorders (ED) and how to provide appropriate support to those who suffer from them.
EDs, which experienced an unprecedented increase during the Covid-19 pandemic, affect millions of people of any age, sex, race and socioeconomic level around the world. However, the most common thing is that they begin during adolescence or youth, and they affect more women than men. As Dr. Teia Plana, coordinator of the ED team at Hospital Clínic Barcelona, points out, “girls and women tend to receive much higher social pressure due to the aesthetic canons imposed by society.”
“Many people developed an irrational fear of gaining weight due to the lack of control over eating and exercise during confinement”
It is essential to recognize the symptoms of EDs to offer appropriate support. These can be behavioral, emotional or physical. Among the first are obsession with weight loss, skipping meals, hiding food, going to the bathroom after eating, using laxatives excessively, changing eating habits and exercising compulsively. Emotionally, patients may experience fear of gaining weight, body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, mood swings, anxiety, lack of emotions, and social isolation. Physically, they manifest themselves in significant weight loss or gain, fatigue, dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, changes in the skin, hair and nails, dental problems and, in women, amenorrhea.
Early detection and early diagnosis are key to a better prognosis. Dr. Teia Plana explains: “The more time passes from the moment the disease appears until it begins to be treated, the greater the risk that the patient will take time to recover.” Families should be alert for emotional changes, such as self-complaints, body contempt, food restriction, withdrawal, or excessive interest in food. In such cases, it is advisable to talk about the matter to understand the situation and feelings, trying to get the family member to open up and express what is happening to them. “At this moment, a psychological resource will surely be more effective than a diet,” adds the expert.
Food should not be a topic of negotiation. Creating a pleasant environment during and after meals, and finding distractions that relieve food-related anxiety can help the patient feel more comfortable and confident. Simplistic advice and discussions about food, health and physical appearance should be avoided, as these attitudes can be triggering or counterproductive. Dr. Itziar Flamarique, child psychiatrist at Hospital Clínic Barcelona, remembers that “it is crucial to validate feelings, be grateful for sharing concerns and avoid judgments.” “
The most important thing,” adds Flamarique, “is that the patient feels that she has someone there to listen to her when she needs it.” Dr. Plana also explains the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the body perception of young people. “During lockdown, many people developed an irrational fear of gaining weight due to a lack of control over diet and exercise. Factors such as perfectionism and the inability to manage stress played a crucial role,” he interprets. “Emotional risks then increased, such as anxiety and isolation, while protective factors such as social relationships decreased,” he recalls.
“It is crucial to validate feelings, be grateful for sharing concerns, and avoid judgment.”
Specialists maintain that, with time and recovery, the patient will probably appreciate the presence of her loved ones. And, since family members need energy and strength to offer the best possible support, they must take care of themselves as well. It is important not to blame yourself for EDs, since they are multi-causal disorders. Dr. Plana points out that there is no single reason; Individual factors influence, such as gender, and other environmental factors, such as social pressure on the physique, especially in women. The bodily changes in adolescence contribute to their development. A good example of healthy lifestyle habits can have a positive impact on the environment and on the patient herself.
The road to recovery is long and slow, but with love and empathy, it is possible. Currently, useful resources are available for these pathologies. Dr. Plana comments: “From the CatSalut mental health program, a shock plan has been implemented. As for the treatments, there is a part that continues to work very well, and there are others that we have to design.” “My feeling is that the social dimension is the weakest. Therefore, all efforts have to go in this direction to improve the situation in the coming years,” he concludes.
#Tips #resources #families #people #eating #disorders
