Eating Disorders Support Groups: A Safe Space For Eating Disorder Patients
Eating disorders are mental health conditions in which a person exhibits abnormal or unhealthy behavior related to consuming and processing food. These disorders can lead to significant health consequences and can be difficult to treat, as many people with eating disorders tend to be resistant to treatment. However, support groups can be one way to connect people with eating disorders to others experiencing the same difficulties. Participating in support groups can aid in recovery, especially when attended alongside regular therapy appointments.
Common eating disorders
Below, learn about three of the most common types of eating disorders.
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa, usually referred to as anorexia, is an eating disorder typically characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and severely restrictive eating behaviors to avoid weight gain. These behaviors often result in significant weight loss that can lead to hospitalization and may even be life-threatening.
People with anorexia may view their disordered eating as a form of discipline or a way to experience a sense of control over their lives. They may have a distorted sense of body image in which they perceive themselves as overweight even if they are not.
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa, typically shortened to bulimia, usually involves two distinct disordered eating behaviors: binging and purging. Binging generally involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time. Meanwhile, purging normally involves compensatory behaviors to address the impacts of the binge, like vomiting or misusing laxatives.
People with bulimia may not experience the same dramatic weight loss as is frequently seen in people with anorexia, but they may develop a number of other health problems.
Binge eating disorder
Binge eating disorder can be similar to bulimia in that it usually involves episodes of binging, but it doesn’t typically involve the same compensatory behaviors after binges. Binge eating episodes may serve as a maladaptive coping mechanism to address negative emotions.
People with binge eating disorder often sense they are out of control during their binges and believe they cannot stop eating. After a binge, they may experience intense guilt and shame.
What is the most serious eating disorder?
It may not be helpful to frame one eating disorder as more “serious” than another, as all eating disorders can take a significant toll on a person’s health and well-being.
However, if seriousness is linked to fatality, anorexia could be considered the most serious eating disorder. A study from 2021 stated that anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder.
How eating disorder support groups can help with treatment
Eating disorder treatment is usually multifaceted and highly individualized, meaning that what works well for one person may not be helpful for someone else. However, one intervention that can be helpful for eating disorder recovery is participation in eating disorder support groups.
According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), which claims to be “the largest peer support resource for eating disorders in the country,” a peer support group may be a more accessible way to receive eating disorder care.
Why eating disorder support groups should be facilitated by a mental health professional
People with eating disorders may sometimes have difficulty recognizing that there is anything unhealthy about their eating behavior, often because they might be receiving positive feedback about their weight loss. This denial and lack of awareness may sometimes become problematic in a support group setting, especially if some participants continue to idealize weight loss and encourage unhealthy eating behaviors.
Mental health professionals can intervene in these situations and gently correct weight loss glorification and health misinformation. They can facilitate conversations in a way that is more productive for all participants and manage group dynamics so that everyone is able to benefit from the group setting.
Additional mental health support for people with eating disorders
Eating disorder support groups can be a beneficial resource for people with eating disorders, but individualized therapeutic treatment is usually a necessary component of recovery.
Online therapy for eating disorders
People with eating disorders may experience intense shame and guilt about their conditions. It can be difficult to talk to a therapist if you are embarrassed about your symptoms. Online therapy may provide a sense of distance during the therapeutic interaction, which may help individuals with eating disorders become more comfortable talking about their experiences.
Research suggests that online therapy could be just as effective as traditional in-person therapy at treating eating disorders. One study examined the results of an online therapeutic intervention for patients experiencing bulimia and found that the resulting symptom reduction was comparable to that of patients who attended therapy in person.
Takeaway
Frequently asked questions
Below are some frequently asked questions about eating disorders.
Which eating disorder is the most difficult to treat?
There is no straightforward answer to the question of eating disorder treatment difficulty, as eating disorders are highly individualized. In terms of data, however, the eating disorder with the highest relapse rate appears to be anorexia, likely due to the deep-seated psychological impact of distorted body image and fear of weight gain.
What medications are used to treat eating disorders?
There is no psychiatric medication specifically designed to treat eating disorders. However, some medications can be used to treat particular symptoms of eating disorders, although these medical interventions typically need to be prescribed in combination with mental health treatment to be most effective.
Many eating disorders co-occur with other mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, and depressive and anxious symptoms can make it more difficult to break away from disordered eating patterns, which may have become coping mechanisms. Talk to your doctor to determine whether medication may be a helpful component of your treatment.
What is the relationship between eating disorders and body image?
Body image concerns can lead to the development of disordered eating behavior. The association between eating disorders and negative body image may help to partially explain why eating disorders tend to be more common among people who identify as girls and women.
Although any person of any gender identity can have self-esteem issues related to their appearance, unrealistic beauty standards and an emphasis on sexual appeal as the basis of self-worth may lead women to be more likely to have body image concerns.
What is the most effective therapy for eating disorders?
Eating disorders are highly individualized, and a therapeutic intervention that works well for one person may not be effective for another. For many people with eating disorders, though, cognitive behavioral therapy, which typically addresses the negative thought patterns associated with disordered eating, has been found to reduce symptoms and promote eating disorder recovery.
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