Eating Disorders/Body Image

Eating disorders are common across all age groups and genders (though often appears more in women) and affects at least 1.84% percent of the U.S. population. But experts believe their prevalence is even higher, as the eating disorders can be presented in numerous ways.

Eating disorders typically fall into three main categories: Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder. People with Anorexia severely restrict their caloric intake, causing abnormal body weight, and a distorted body image. With Bulimia, individuals consume large quantities of food and then use “compensatory methods,” such as purging or over exercising, to rid themselves of the calories. People with Binge Eating Disorder also consume large quantities of food but do not use “compensatory methods.” Binges occur in private and people will often eat “normal” quantities of food when out in public.

Many people also struggle with disordered eating but do not fall into these three categories; in fact, the majority of individuals with eating disorders are in this group. Though they often feel that their struggle is invalidated because they do not fit the diagnostic criteria for an official diagnosis, their experiences can be just as severe and persistent as the others.

Though eating disorders often present as a primary issue, they are in fact a symptom of a larger problem. Common characteristics of eating disorders are repressed feelings, shying away from conflict, struggle with low self-esteem, feeling a loss of control, and striving for perfection. I work with individuals by targeting the symptoms of their behavior as well exploring underlying issues, which are often poor self-esteem, perfectionism, control, and sexuality.