Eating disorders are a pervasive and potentially severe affliction. They may manifest in a variety of ways and affect those of all walks of life. Their severity can range from a mild circumstance of disordered eating, such as interest in fad diets, low body image, or interest in supplements, to dangerous and well-documented afflictions such as bulimia and anorexia. The potential severity of such afflictions can lead to long-term and even life-threatening health issues, from diabetes to schizophrenia.

Due to trends across numerous but predominantly Western societies, eating disorders have become more ubiquitous with excessive exercise, dietary fads, nutritional misinformation, and body-shaming each becoming commonplace in daily lives. These elements have infiltrated a broad range of media and daily routine including, perhaps most notably, social media platforms that are strongly linked to lower mental health issues.

There is no single cause for eating disorders and a range of factors, from stress to genetics, can lead a person to experience any form of disordered eating. Due to their normalisation, as well as the general stigma surrounding mental health and the associated sense of isolation, it can be a considerable challenge for an individual to recognise symptoms or even discern that they are experiencing an issue at all.

Disordered eating, for example, can start out as a pursuit of fitness and health, prompting the adoption of new diets or exercising. While these endeavours, in moderation, can bring about benefits, they can also lead to lower self-esteem, poor body image, and an urge to push further into more dietary changes, the skipping of meals, and, eventually, a radical change in relationship to food.

There remain many myths and stereotypes regarding eating disorders and their pervasiveness only serve to harm those struggling. Mental health issues have long faced the confrontation of ‘being in one’s head’, a perspective that encourages guilt in those experiencing such ailments. The same occurs for eating disorders, whereby people underestimate the severity of the mental health effects, especially the control a disorder has over one’s diet and respond with dismissive comments.

Should an individual consider themselves to have a changing relationship with food, noticing any potentially harmful habits or thoughts developing, they should seek the advice of a health professional or eating disorder counselling. There are a number of accredited professionals that can offer support and advice, with information being shared, such as an article describing the various types of eating disorders by Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Identifying the symptoms of disordered eating and eating disorders early on is crucial since it minimises the development and severity of symptoms and shortens the length of time needed to recover. There are a number of severe physical effects associated with eating disorders too and, while the symptoms can largely manifest as mental, they ultimately pose a dangerous risk to physical health, with a high number of eating disorders also being associated with death.

If there is any concern for your own safety or the safety of others, it is important to consult a GP or medical professional as soon as possible.