Emotional Eating Disorder Treatment
The danger of emotional eating disorders
Emotional eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, binge eating, and Bulimia Nervosa are extremely dangerous and can be fatal if not addressed in time. Recent statistics indicate that eating disorders are becoming very prevalent in Western societies. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 5% to 10% of US girls and women as well as a million boys and men suffer from on of the three disorders mentioned above.
Additionally, the NIMH has suggested that up to 15% of all females have unhealthy attitudes about food. Because of the fact that there is so much guilt and secretiveness involved with eating disorders, it is not uncommon for many of these cases to go unreported and never treated. Studies conducted regarding body shape, diet, and weight loss indicate that many individuals are dissatisfied with the way they look and feel the pressures of society to maintain a nice appearance.
Eating disorder statistics
According to the NIMH, the following are some of the more shocking statistics regarding the dangers and prevalence of eating disorders in American society:
- 10% of college females are borderline eating disorder cases (clinical or sub-clinical) and 50% of these suffer with Bulimia Nervosa
- 1 out of every 100 American women attempt to lose weight by bingeing and purging
- 15% of all females have negative attitudes and behavior about eating habits
- Roughly 1 out of every 3 dieters will develop compulsive attitudes and behaviors about dieting – 25% of these individuals will develop an eating disorder as a result
- Americans spend approximately $109 million on diets and dieting related products every day of the week
Additionally, the NIMH studies found that 40% of all girls in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades are concerned about being thinner while 80% of 10-year old females are worried about gaining too much weight and getting fat.
Identifying the triggers of emotional eating disorders
Emotions that act as the triggers for eating are classified into 5 distinct categories including the following:
Emotional – eating is oftentimes triggered by emotions such as anger, anxiety, boredom, depression, fatigue, loneliness, and tension in order to fill a void
Physiological – in this case, eating is triggered by physiological cues such as eating when you are getting headaches or hunger resulting from skipped meals
Situational – in the simplest of descriptions, this is eating because the opportunity to do so is there
Social – eating whenever you are in a social setting and around other people
Thoughts – eating by making excuses or feelings of negative self-worth
Harmony Grove eating wellness center is an 8-bed residence that is located in beautiful San Diego, California and we have clients that come to us to overcome their emotional eating disorders from all over the world.