Eating Disorders Statistics, Causes, and Cures

When people think about eating disorders, they typically ask the same questions. “How come they hate food?” or, “Puking after every meal? No way!”

Right from the start, it should be said that eating disorders aren’t actually about food, but are really control-related. Most of those suffering from eating disorders also suffer from control issues. They are convinced that life is so full of chaos that the one area where they can exercise control is their eating. Let us examine some information about eating disorders and also discover how to treat them.

The Causes of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are frequently passed on in a family from one generation to the next. Whether one parent or the other had problems with eating too much or not enough, their children seem to inherit it. This can be due to the fact that children learn from and try to imitate what they see their parents do.

Stress, as well as control issues, can be a major factor in developing eating disorders for children and teens. When feeling stressed, some people overeat while others eat too little or not at all. Each person’s body processes things differently which factors into the equation.

Eating Disorders Statistics

Eating disorders statistics are staggering. For example, according to a Washington State Department of Health (www.doh.wa.gov Mental Health-Eating Disorders, August 27, 2016) study of American girls in their adolescent years, approximately one percent will acquire anorexia nervosa and two to five percent will develop bulimia.

Among U.S. adolescents, anorexia ranks as number three on the list of most prevalent chronic illnesses. Even though the rate of eating disorders among males is a great deal less than among females, it is estimated that 19-30 percent of anorexia cases are diagnosed among male older adolescents.

These are overwhelming numbers, especially taking into account all of the stress that adolescents regularly deal with. Not only do they have stress at home and school, but their brains are changing developmentally, and their bodies are beginning to change physically.

Among adults in the United States, about ten million women and about one million men struggle with eating disorders. Forty percent of the population have either suffered from an eating disorder, themselves or they are acquainted with someone that has. Consider these percentages of people who will acquire an eating disorder sometime during their life:

• 5% of women will battle binge eating
• 5% of women will battle bulimia
• .9% of women will battle anorexia
• 2% of men will battle binge eating
• .5% of men will battle bulimia
• .3% of men will battle anorexia

(National Institute of Mental Health, nimh.nih.gov, Eating Disorders, August 27, 2016).

What Can Be Done to Help?

These eating disorders statistics may not seem like a big deal to some. However, for those who counsel people that have eating disorders, or are suffering from them themselves, these are shocking statistics! How can they help those who suffer from eating disorders?

Personal, family, or group treatment is a vital part of handling these issues. Medication may also be necessary to help treat the other issues such as depression or anxiety that often accompany eating disorders. The most important factor in helping those who are suffering is the constant support of both friends and family in encouraging them to Get help.

Eating Disorders are Addictions

Just like drugs, alcohol, sex, and gambling can be addictions, eating disorders are another type of addiction. A person can become addicted or obsessed with the way they look or with being thin. A condition called “Body Dysmorphic Disorder” (BDD) can also correspond with eating disorders.

According to the DSM-5, BDD sits squarely in the obsessive-compulsive spectrum, though it is differentiated from anorexia-nervosa. According to Wikipedia, Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a mental disorder where a preoccupation with some aspect of their appearance (which they view as extremely flawed) controls an individual’s behavior. The sufferer then goes to great lengths to try to disguise or amend these flaws.

The Need for Support

Support is another vital weapon in the arsenal of someone fighting an eating disorder. They need a group of people who will be there to come alongside them on their road to wellness.

This usually comprises a number of individuals including a:

• Dietician
• Counselor
• Psychiatrist (if medication is needed)
• Support counselors present at meals (assuming the client is being treated in a facility)

Inpatient-based treatment centers are one option.  This means that the person is required to stay there for between a month and a year, depending on the evaluation of food intake carried out by the particular treatment center. This occurs when a counselor or family member refers the patient to a facility.

Outpatient treatment is another possibility. This usually consists of group counseling and meals, meetings with a psychiatrist and dietician, and individual counseling. While all of this happens in a facility, the client does not remain there overnight.

Support and Coping Mechanisms for Eating Disorders

What are some other activities that can help lessen the struggles of an eating disorder? How can family and friends help? Consider this list of things that can help ease the burden of this disorder:

1)  Private counseling to help work through family issues, eating and body image issues, and discussing life prior to the onset of the eating disorder.

2)  Yoga, meditation, prayer- whatever helps you find peace.

3)  Appropriate levels of exercise. This amounts to roughly 30 minutes, three days per week. More than this can become one more obsession for those who have eating problems.

4)  Structured meal times with support counselors or other professionals. This will help those who are struggling to develop healthy eating habits.

5)  Sessions with a dietician regarding proper nutrition.

6)  Psychiatric consultation to prescribe medication. This can help with any other issues that may accompany the eating disorder. It is a very common occurrence and includes other disorders such as depression, anxiety, alcohol or drug addiction, bipolar, or any combination of things.

7)  Music, journaling, reading, creating something, or doing an art project.

8)  Coming alongside others once you are back to health, yourself. Serving others can help us to count our blessings and experience a greater degree of gratitude.

Bible Study and Prayer Can Offer Hope

Two other essential activities are prayer and Bible study. This reminds us that God is there to help us through these struggles. It can transform our outlook and show us that we are not alone. Even though we can’t see Him or sense His presence, He is ever present.

Praying to God can help us view ourselves the way He does: as His beautiful son or daughter. He loves you and knows your worth even when you can’t see it. We are all imperfect, and it is easy to fall away from the Lord, forgetting His care for us.

Consider the following verse from the Bible and find peace, encouragement, and the knowledge that you are not alone:

My darling, everything about you is beautiful, and there is nothing at all wrong with you. – Song of Solomon 4:7

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. – Proverbs 31:30

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. – Romans 14:17

Don’t you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don’t belong to yourselves. You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The Lord is near all who call out to Him, all who call out to Him with integrity. – Psalm 145:18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayers and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. – Psalm 55:22

The only temptations that you have are the same temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

Christian Counseling for Eating Disorders is Available

Hopefully, this article gives you peace, hope, and the assurance that people are available to help. If you or a loved one are suffering from eating disorders, the time to seek help is now!  Christian Counseling for Eating Disorders can help set you on the path to recovery and health.