Those who have eating disorders may not be able to feel positive about themselves. This means that their self-esteem takes a beating due to this disorder. You may be intrigued as to how eating disorders can affect people’s attitude. Perhaps, the foremost thought in the minds of these people may be to survive with these disorders or to overcome them and so, they may not be focusing on or worrying about their self-esteem. There are certain people who feel hopeless due to these eating disorders.
Link between eating disorders And self esteem
Though it is a fact that disorders in eating habits cause low self-esteem, researchers have not yet clearly found how there is a link between both. Lack of self-esteem may motivate a person to resort to disordered eating and eating disorders may result in sapping the person’s self-esteem. Though researchers are yet to establish the link between the two, a lot of study has been done in this field and these studies have revealed several interesting insights.
Emotional obsessions and physical addictions
The main problem is that eating disorders can be serious as well as complex. They may lead to emotional obsessions and also physical addictions. If the disorders are allowed to worsen, the affected people may have mood swings apart from their physical problems. There may be the potential threat of death also due to severe mood swings.
When the affected people develop conditions like obsessions with food and weight, they may start worrying about their looks too. In addition to that, their physical health may also be spoiled due to fluctuations or increases in weight. On the emotional front, their relationships with others including their family members may be affected. They may not be able to focus even on their daily activities.
Irrespective of age and gender, eating disorders can affect anyone. But, experts in human psychology opine that all these habits including imposing self-restrictions on food intake, binge-eating, abusing of laxatives, compulsive over-eating, excessive exercises, etc. are only symptoms. These symptoms may be a subterfuge or a way to cope with the emotional pains they may have. Especially, they may try to suppress pain caused due to transition, separation, lack of self esteem, stress, traumatic experiences, depression, etc. So, doctors may have to find out the root cause for their problem to treat them appropriately.
Eating disorders in adolescents and teens
Nowadays, many adolescents and teens are also affected by eating disorders. In general, these young people have a lot of concern about their looks. Especially, during the period of puberty, they may be more self-conscious about their looks. They may face social and peer pressure during this phase of their life. But, if this concern becomes an obsession in them, it may lead to eating disorders.
There are a few types of eating disorders that are known as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, etc. that may cause fluctuations in the weight of these young people. This may affect their overall health on a permanent basis.
But, if parents succeed in building the self-esteem in these young people, they can certainly prevent affliction by eating disorders. Not only that, they can provide the children with appropriate medical care and ensure that such disorders do not affect them.
Eating Disorders In Adults
Similarly, even in adults, self esteem plays a major role in preventing or tackling eating disorders. So, the treatment process should target self-esteem. The affected people should be made to realize how eating disorders may affect their body image. They should also be educated suitably so as to have focus on their good qualities, abilities and accomplishments instead of focusing on their image or looks to boost their self -esteem.