The Intersection of Mental Health and Eating Disorders: A Comprehensive Overview
Have you ever thought about how eating habits can affect your mind and emotions? Eating disorders are serious illnesses that involve eating too much, too little, or in an unhealthy way. They are not just about food but also about how we feel and think. The Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research (CHEAR) helps people, children, adolescents and adults, who struggle with these problems. What are eating disorders? Let's delve into each of these eating disorders to understand them in more detail. Anorexia Nervosa What is it? Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder where individuals have an intense fear of gaining weight and see themselves as overweight even if they are underweight. They often restrict the amount of food they eat, leading to significantly low body weight. Behaviors and Signs Extreme restriction of food intake. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming 'fat,' even when underweight. Distorted body image – seeing themselves as overweight despite being underweight. In females, missing menstrual periods can be a sign. Weighing themselves frequently and obsessively monitoring their body…