CMO Message: Eating Disorders

Over the last 2 years, the pandemic has thrown an enormous wrench into care for chronic health conditions. The focus has generally been on conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension where reduced access to in-person care led to worsening blood glucose readings or elevated blood pressure for many people. Any chronic condition can be easily derailed when access to care is limited and one group of chronic conditions that has received less attention than warranted has been eating disorders.

In 2020, the incidence of eating disorders increased by more than 15% and hospitalizations of adolescents from severe eating disorders increased throughout the pandemic. The excessive stress, worsening mental health, social isolation, disruption in physical activity routines, food insecurity, reduced healthcare access, and strained interpersonal relationships are all risk factors for exacerbating existing eating disorders or triggered new eating disorders in people who were previously healthy.

Stress is a powerful influencer of eating habits. Whether you eat more, eat less, skip meals, become ravenous, or lose your appetite; almost all of us have changed our eating behavior due to stress at some point in our lives. For groups such as adolescents and people with a family history of eating disorders, major changes in life can easily put them at risk of developing unhealthy eating and exercise habits.

While eating disorders encompass a wide range of behaviors from restricting food, binging, purging, to overexercising; these behaviors are reflective of complex thoughts and emotions around distorted self-image and preoccupations about appearance, body weight, and food. Eating disorders are often misunderstood as a lifestyle choice, but these conditions are serious and potentially life-threatening. They can lead to poor quality of life, poor mental health, fatal electrolyte imbalances, heart failure, kidney failure, gastrointestinal dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, osteoporosis, dental decay, and substance abuse.

However, once identified eating disorders can be treated successfully with the proper support. If you are concerned about your eating and exercise habits please reach out to your healthcare provider for a complete assessment of your physical and emotional health. Your doctor can then put together a comprehensive care plan to help you recover. Even if you don’t fit the exact criteria for an eating disorder, your provider can help you build a healthier relationship with food and your body.

FAQs

1. What are eating disorders?
   Eating disorders are mental health conditions that cause unhealthy behaviors related to eating and body weight that impact quality of life. These behaviors can range from restricting food, binging, purging, to overexercising.

2. Who is at risk of developing an eating disorder?
   People of all ages, genders, and races experience eating disorders but they are most commonly diagnosed in adolescent and adult women. Eating disorders also occur in men but are typically under-diagnosed. Additional risk factors include family history of eating disorders, cultural pressures, experiencing a major life change, and certain occupations such as gymnastics and dancing.

3. What are the health consequences of eating disorders?
   Eating disorders are serious and potentially life-threatening. They can lead to poor mental health, fatal electrolyte imbalances, heart failure, kidney failure, gastrointestinal dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, infertility, osteoporosis, dental decay, and substance abuse.

4. What should I do if I’m concerned that my eating or exercise habits are unhealthy?
   Eating disorders can be treated successfully once they are identified. If you are concerned about your relationship with food or exercise please reach out to your healthcare provider for a complete assessment of your physical and emotional health. Your doctor can put together a comprehensive care plan to help you recover.