Did you know that the “The prevalence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa has risen in eight out of 10 Eastern European countries (Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia) over the three past decades (1990-2019)?” This information is taken from a fascinating study from the Institute of Psychology at the University of Wrocław.

Over the course of this spring, I taught grade 9 and 10 students about eating disorders. My goal in these lessons is to shed light on eating disorders and provide tips and tools for how to combat them. It’s most helpful to start with a definition, which I have taken from the Mayo Clinic: “Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health, your emotions and your ability to function in important areas of life.” It is important to note that the onset of eating disorders usually happens in adolescence and they are most common in females, however it is possible males can develop them as well.

Anorexia is characterized by abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and distorted perception of weight. People with anorexia are more concerned with being thin than anything else. This often leads them to make very unhealthy and even deadly decisions. A study from the National Eating Disorders Association reported the following:

 

• The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate of ALL other causes of death for females 15-24 years old combined.

Bulimia is characterized by binging and purging behaviors. This means eating large amounts of food (often feeling out of control while doing so) and then purging it by vomiting or using laxatives. This can cause harm to the digestive system, the mouth, teeth and heart. It is often hard to determine if someone has bulimia because they will often be a normal or above normal weight. Some signs and symptoms of bulimia are:

• Constantly worrying or complaining about being fat
• Not wanting to eat in public or in front of others
• Going to the bathroom right after eating, during meals or for long periods of time

Binge eating disorder is characterized by eating abnormally large amounts of food within a short period of time (2 hours). During times of binge eating, the person will feel out of control, and afterwards they may feel guilty or ashamed. See here for more information. 

There are many reasons why people develop eating disorders.  Possible causes include genetics, biology and psychological health. Risk factors include family history of eating disorders, mental health disorders, dieting, starvation and stress (Mayo Clinic). 

It is also important to note that many people with eating disorders do not want treatment and will resist it at all costs. This makes it particularly challenging to help them get treatment, but it is critical to seek treatment immediately.

What can you do as a parent to help your child have a healthy body image and avoid disordered eating? Here are a few simple steps.

• Be mindful about what you say in front of your children. According to Psychiatry Today, mothers who express dissatisfaction with their appearance can inadvertently diminish their daughter’s self esteem. 
• Focus on healthy eating and exercise rather than weight. Take your children grocery shopping with you and teach them to read nutrition labels and choose healthy foods.
• Focus on quality character traits rather than appearance. For example, you could comment on a person’s work ethic or how kind they are.
• Talk about body images your children see in the media. Remind them that many of those images are not real representations of the human body as they are filtered or altered.

If you are concerned that your child has an eating disorder, please do not wait to seek help. Have an open and honest conversation with your child about your concerns and take him or her to see a doctor. 

• Bulgaria Helpline for Eating Disorders
• Bulgarian Agency for Eating Disorders
• Bulgarian Eating Disorder Therapists
  • https://stoyanpetrov.eu/
  • https://superdoc.bg/lekar/milena-rusanova
  • Милена Ташкова (Milena Tashkova), 0884 790 859
• Eating Disorder Treatment Centers in Europe
• Eating Disorder Treament in EU & USA
• Linden Group

For more information about eating disorders, please visit these sites.

• National Eating Disorders Association 
• ANAD
• Mayo Clinic
• National Institute of Mental Health
• Australian National Eating Disorders Collaboration
• UK National Health Service