In the United States, eating disorders are the second most deadly mental
health issue (behind opioid use disorder). And they are more common than you
may think, affecting about
9 percent of the U.S. population
at some point in their lifetime. Eating disorders cause
more than 10,000 deaths
every year in the U.S., and 26 percent of people with eating disorders
attempt suicide.
Eating disorders affect people
of all ages, genders, body sizes, races, ethnicities, and sexualities. A
very small portion (less than 6 percent) of people with an eating disorder
are considered underweight, and individuals with a
higher body weight
are actually more than twice as likely to engage in disordered eating
behaviors. Eating disorders
affect both women and men, with 1 in 3 people with an eating disorder being male. In addition, eating
disorders are found at
similar or higher rates in all racial and ethnic groups
as compared to white individuals. And
LGBTQIA+ young people
are three times as likely to have an eating disorder than non-LGBTQIA+ young
people.
It is important to be informed and learn the signs. Effective treatment is
available, and recovery is possible.
Types of Eating Disorders
There are many kinds of eating disorders. The most common ones include:
Anorexia nervosa
People with anorexia severely restrict how much food they eat. They may also
exercise compulsively and/or purge (see bulimia nervosa below). They usually
see themselves as overweight, regardless of their body size. Anorexia can
cause thinning of the bones, infertility, and ultimately heart, brain, or
multi-organ failure and death.
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia is characterized by binge eating (devouring large amounts of food
uncontrollably) and then purging (vomiting, fasting, laxatives, compulsive
exercise, or other methods). Purging can cause an inflamed or sore throat,
tooth decay, acid reflux, and severe dehydration. Ultimately, bulimia may
create
electrolyte imbalances
that can lead to stroke or heart attack.
Binge eating disorder
People who have binge eating disorder (or BED) will eat large amounts of
food at one sitting; however, they do not purge after a binge as in bulimia.
They may have feelings of shame, disgust, or guilt about their binges. BED
can increase the risk of complications like heart disease, stroke, and type
2 diabetes.
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Someone with ARFID only eats a very limited number of foods, but this
condition is not related to body shape or image. AFRID may be dismissed as
“picky eating,” especially in children. Individuals with ARFID don’t ingest
enough calories to develop properly or even maintain basic body functions,
which can create dangerous electrolyte imbalances.
Advice for Parents and Caregivers
Tragically, eating disorders are becoming more and
more common
in children and adolescents.
• By age 7, one in four children has engaged in some kind of dieting behavior.
• 53 percent of American girls
report being unhappy with their bodies at age 13 and 78 percent at age 17.
• 95 percent
eating disorders start by age 25.
As a parent or guardian, you’re better positioned than anyone else to notice
changes in your
child’s eating patterns
or an ongoing obsession with food or their weight. If you have concerns,
talk to your child’s pediatrician. Children are also screened for eating
disorders at their annual well visit. If their doctor feels there are
warning signs, they can guide you on what to do next.
If your child has an eating disorder, they will need to learn how to change
their relationship with food. And you’ll need to learn how to support them
along the road to wellness. Effective care for
eating disorders in young people
often includes a multi-disciplinary team approach and support for family
members.
The Role of Body Image
Many kids, teenagers, and adults have body image issues, and
this can play a big role
in anorexia and bulimia. There is so much pressure in our society to look a
certain way — coming not just from peer interactions, but also social media,
TV, and other sources.
Kids and teenagers especially may compare themselves to unrealistic ideals
and try doing something drastic to look the way they think they’re supposed
to. Or even to fit into a particular weight class for their favorite sport.
Effectively Treating an Eating Disorder
The best approach for treating an eating disorder is a customized treatment
plan for each individual. The care should be centered on
proven treatment approaches
and provided by a multi-disciplinary team, with the individual taking part
in their treatment along with their loved ones. More advanced cases may
require hospitalization, an outpatient treatment program (where you attend
the program during the day and go home at night), or a residential treatment
program.
We know it can be overwhelming to try to find help to treat conditions like
an eating disorder. That’s why we offer a variety of
resources, care options, and support.
Our Behavioral Health Care Navigation team is ready to support Independence
Blue Cross (IBX) members and offer guidance that is personalized for each
individual. Our clinical staff can consult with you to match you with an
in-network provider who fits your needs. They can even directly schedule an
appointment for you.
We contract with high-quality providers that specialize in eating disorders,
such as Equip, to
ensure members have access to personalized and proven care. Several of these
providers are committed to having appointments available quickly for IBX
members — usually within 7 days.
To reach our Behavioral Health Care Navigation team, IBX members can call
1-800-688-1911.
If you prefer, you can also search for a network provider online using our
Provider Finder. You can also call the
National Eating Disorders Helpline
at 1-888-375-7767 if you need help.
Equip is an independent company.
This content was originally published on
IBX Insights.
About Dr. Dolores Roman
Dr. Dolores Roman joined Independence Blue Cross in 2019. As a 20-year
veteran of emergency rooms in and around the Philadelphia area, Dr. Roman
has dealt with every kind of emergency. Now as a medical director at
Independence, Dr. Roman is involved in utilization management, case
management, and quality improvement. What Dr. Roman loves most about this
job is the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in order to enhance
the health and well-being of those served by Independence Blue Cross.
