As humans, we are always constantly improving ourselves in a variety of different aspects of our lives. Whether it’s intelligence, physical prowess, or socio-economic status, most of us want to live a convenient life that’s fulfilling, healthy, and happy. For a lot of individuals, body image and physical beauty is an important concept that can affect most of our interactions with others. It’s no secret that most individuals that are considered attractive have it easier throughout their day-to-day lives.
While diet plans and generally cutting down on food that’s high in calories are great ways of losing weight and regulating your eating habits, this can also cause a variety of drastic changes to your body. Naturally, our bodies are unique in their own ways and will react to change n the body in different ways. In certain situations, changing your body’s diet and lifestyle could eventually lead to certain health conditions, such as anorexia, binge eating, and even bulimia. Purging disorder is known for being one of the most common eating disorders.
But what makes these eating disorders differ from each other? How is it different from purging disorder? We’ll be answering some important questions about eating disorders and what you can do to prevent such a situation.
What Is Purging Disorder?
There’s one eating disorder that’s known for being a direct consequence of poor mental health and body image: purging disorder. As the name suggests, this is usually characterized by the individual “cleansing” large amounts of food by vomiting it. In fact, it’s known that 5% of women have purged at some point in their life as a means of meeting the societal standards of physical beauty.
The majority of individuals who purge are usually not happy with their body image, especially in terms of their weight and size. In certain situations, most would blame their body image as a reason why they are being bullied among their peers. As an effort to lose weight, they force themselves to not eat or vomit right after meals. Some would also take laxatives to excrete contents from their bowels as soon as possible.
How Is It Different From Other Eating Disorders?
First, we have to discuss the key differences between purging disorder from other eating disorders. One of the most common types of eating disorders out there is usually in the form of binge eating disorder. But compared to purging, binging is the complete opposite of purging and is characterized by eating large sums of food in a short span of time.
However, there are similarities to both purging and binging disorders, mainly that both are caused by a distorted sense of reality. Binging will usually result in guilt. In most cases, this guilt could then lead to problems with body image, thereby leading to purging. The binge-purge disorder is known for being one of the more destructive traits among individuals with eating disorders. Compared to purging, binge eating seems to be more widely accepted. Most would say this is because of the mukbang trend, which has been glorifying binge eating.
Fortunately, there are professionals that can assist in binge eating disorder recovery. This organization offers a comprehensive plan and program that can help with binge eating as well as a variety of other eating disorders. Having expert supervision and consultation is key in having a positive outlook on your body image while making significant improvements to your physical health.
How Is Purging Disorder Treated?
When it comes to treating this type of disorder, it’s important to go to a professional that’s well-versed in this situation. There’s really no one cause to purging disorder, and there are a variety of factors that need to be taken into account. That said, you’ll need to seek consultation from your doctor and psychiatrist to help narrow down the cause. It’s also helpful in having a network of support that can help you through emotional and mental ordeals.
Conclusion
There is a variety of eating disorders that could cause problems in an individual’s overall health. Although “dieting” can be a great way to lose weight, some individuals can take their weight loss journey too seriously and will resort to purging.
Ultimately, you need to have a positive self-image and avoid body shaming others. After all, we are all beautiful in our own ways, and our bodies are even more unique on how it reacts to certain changes in our body. Although we should be contented with our own body image, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t exercise and work out towards better health. Like any other physical and mental condition out there, it’s best to talk to experts that can address concerns on weight and your overall health.
