The severity of an eating disorder doesn’t equate to size…
It’s a common perception that the thinner you are, the worse your eating disorder is. No doubt that someone who is showing extremely low body fat percentage and muscle wastage will likely have a severe eating disorder. But that doesn’t mean someone who is fuller doesn’t also have significant problems with their eating.
Eating disorders have consumed a large part of my life and I’ve jumped through many of the different ‘types.’ Probably the most traumatic for me was bulimia nervosa.
My electrolytes would be on an endless rollercoaster, my heart would be racing from the extremes in blood sugar and the potassium dysfunction from vomiting. I knew where every public toilet was in my local area and would dread having to face some of them because of how dirty they were. I would eat to the point that I could hardly breathe and be desperate to expel the enormous contents of food that I’d ingested.
My throat hurt, my stomach hurt, my eyes were dry, my skin was dry, my nose would bleed, I smelt of sick, I felt disgusting and I hated myself.
And yet I looked completely normal.
The old saying…don’t judge a book by its cover. The lasting physical effects from bulimia were far more significant for me than those experienced from many more years of anorexia. Not that anorexia is by any means a walk in the park! But it seems to be the eating disorder that gains notoriety and sympathy. People appear more vulnerable and in need of care because of their smaller size.
Size does not equate to vulnerability.
Myself and James Piecowye touched on eating disorders this week when discussing food, health, exercise and diets on @podaholiks.
There is something for everyone in this episode, so consider taking a listen.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6kmvh4czoFX9ViOSFYlsUE…
#life Vivamus MEEDA (Middle East Eating Disorders Association) Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) Eating disorder charity beat #health #wellness #normal #mentalhealth #healthy #wellbeing #medicine #mediclife
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