Beware if you start counting calories!
If you have become obsessed with food, are overly concerned with weight and appearance, are on strict diets, spend long periods of time in the toilet, and are constantly counting calories, you may have an eating disorder.
Experts who draw attention to eating disorders that occur during adolescence make important warnings in the struggle.
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Aslıhan Dönmez from Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital said that physical and mental changes that occur in adolescence lead to eating disorders.
Defining eating disorders as "diseases characterized by disorders in eating behavior", Prof. Dr. Aslıhan Dönmez said, "There are two basic disorders under the title of eating disorders. In anorexia nervosa, there is a significant restriction in daily calorie intake, excessive fear of gaining weight and seeing oneself as overweight even though one is thin. In bulimia nervosa, there are episodes of binging and purging. These binging and purging episodes may occur through vomiting, the use of diuretics and laxatives, or excessive exercise.
Prof. Dr. Aslıhan Dönmez stated that eating disorders mostly start during adolescence and said, "The most important reason for this is the physical and mental changes that occur during adolescence. The fact that the body is changing and the increase in fat is an important triggering factor. Being accepted and liked in the social sphere becomes increasingly important for an adolescent and physical appearance becomes an important determinant of this. In this period, receiving criticism from friends about appearance or weight can trigger an eating disorder."
SYMPTOMS OF EATING DISORDER
Prof. Dr. Aslıhan Dönmez noted that eating disorders can be understood in various ways and listed these symptoms as follows: "Becoming obsessive about food, starting excessive efforts related to weight and appearance, following very strict diets, staying in the toilet for long periods of time, hiding food, obsessively counting calories, engaging in hours-long sports activities, and especially starting to lie about what they eat can be eating disorder indicators."
Prof. Dr. Dönmez also pointed out that general symptoms such as decreased academic success, deterioration in social relationships, not leaving the room, increased anger, and withdrawal may also occur.
EATING DISORDER CAN BE TREATED
Stating that psychotherapy methods and psychiatric drugs are used in the treatment of eating disorders, Prof. Dr. Aslıhan Dönmez said, "In cases where the disease is advanced, hospitalization may be required for a while. The most important stage of treatment is to convince the patient to be treated. Because patients may be reluctant to apply for treatment, fearing that they will gain excessive weight with treatment."
LISTEN TO THESE SUGGESTIONS
Prof. Dr. Aslıhan Dönmez made the following suggestions to families who think that their child has an eating disorder:
"Stop supervising him/her: Stop controlling what he/she eats, whether he/she takes it out or not. Your controlling behavior will cause him to feel more under pressure and increase these behaviors. Moreover, it will increase lying.
Do not blame him/her: Some families blame the patient, thinking that the eating disorder is a sign of "spoiling". Remember that eating disorder is a psychiatric illness that requires treatment and has nothing to do with spoiling.
Do not be overly intrusive: For some adolescents, an eating disorder may be the only area of their lives that they can control, a struggle for freedom.
Do not try to make her gain weight: Remember that the thing she fears most in life is gaining weight. Because he thinks that once he starts, he will not be able to stop it. So don't try to force him to eat something high in calories.
Try to convince him/her to undergo treatment: But do not be coercive in doing so. He will not benefit from the treatment you force him to take. Instead, talk to him calmly, express your concerns about him and encourage him to seek treatment."