Friday, 19 March 2010
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Have You Heard of This "New" Eating Disorder?
Let me ask you a question:
What does someone with an eating disorder look like?
The answer: You, me, anyone.
Having a food problem doesn't have a "look" anymore. We're fat, we're skinny, we're muscular, we're willowy, we're average, we're plump, we're curvy, we're emaciated, we're fit, we're boyish.
Of course you know about anorexia and bulimia, but there's one illness that a lot of women have never even heard of, even though it's the most common eating disorder among women. It's called "eating disorder not otherwise specified" (EDNOS), and it includes all of the disordered eating stuff that falls in between other diagnoses—including things like bingeing without purging, jumping back and forth between starving and overeating, emotionally eating or being obsessed with diets or exercise but never getting dangerously skinny.
Psychologists recognize that there's an disorder spectrum—and that lots of people who move around on that spectrum throughout their lives, sometimes under-eating, sometimes overeating, sometimes throwing up or using laxatives or diet pills. And for millions of women, their "weird" relationship with food never rises to the level of an official disorder, but they still suffer and obsess about food, weight and their body.ENOUGH! Every single one of us deserves to heal, whether we have anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified), orthorexia, purging disorder or are just plain weird about food. This stuff takes up way too much of our time, our brainpower and our lives. Right? Right!
Check out some books, support groups and other resources to help you along in your recovery. And feel free to share other ideas for healing in the comments. Let's kick this food-and-body B.S. in the teeth!
Have you heard of EDNOS? What are your thoughts?
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- From: hlthygrl@xanga
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Comments (99)
It's not 'new'. That's what I was originally diagnosed with several years ago.
You make it sound though like it's just out of hand dieting - when it's typically what you get classified as when you don't fit into one or two of the criteria for anorexia or bulimia. (You fit everything for the classification of anorexia.. except for the weight, or everything for bulimia except number of times you purge, ect)
I just wish people would realize how it's so much more dangerous than other ED's simply because it's not generally recognized & seen as a problem.
Good lord.
It's not a "new" disorder.It sounds like a more extreme version of "yo-yo" dieting, right? I'm sure a lot of women suffer from it. It's sad, really, that we can't just be healthy (and I know that's easier said than done, before you jump all over me) and accept ourselves. I used to be obsessive about eating. I'd overeat and then I'd feel guilty and go a good amount of time without eating. Now... I eat in moderation and I may not be the perfect weight, but I'm healthy.
I've been NOS for 8 years. I veer in between anorexic behaviors and bulimic behaviors, and I have to agree with Unrevealed Truth, it's not new at all and it can definitly be one of the most dangerous disorders because it's so hard to notice, and I don't know very many people with ED's that admit to having a problem, or we're afraid that if we tell someone, they will laugh at us because we're not super skinny or something like that.
Ok... I think I just lost my appetite.
I hope that people get more aware of alll these disorders. Most of them don't even know that bulimia doesnt nececarrily make you thin. It's true everyone should be able to get help...but unfortunately not everyone does, because its not taken seriously.
good post.
I was considered EDNOS at one point. Its not super new but its not old either. It is very dangerous this was when I was really bad I ended up in the hospital for a week.
@Morningstarrising@xanga - Its more extreme than yo-yo dieting that would probably be considered disordered eating. If you purge you are considered to have an eating disorder for sure... Basically EDNOS is a catch all category they stick if you don't fit the other three eating disorders. For me I weighed too much to be anorexic, I didn't purge enough to be considered bulimic, and I didn't binge enough to have BED (Binge Eating Disorder). So I was EDNOS for one doctor and for another i was still "bulimic" even though I rarely purge.
@UnrevealedTruth_xo@xanga - @iheartslb@xanga - the reason for these little thingos 'new' is hinting at a bit of sarcasm
This is anything but 'new'. And I honestly think most women suffer from it to some degree. Most women I know are pretty fucked up about food.
@Coke0@xanga - I agree.
Are the editors to blame for the title, or did the OP call it that?
Like the others say, its not new.
I use to be Ednos. Luckily, recovered and healthy now.
This isn't really "new" but I'm glad that people are learning about it.
lol that's not a "new" eating disorder, its regular..its what most people who are recovered are put under, or what people with anorexic and/or bulimic tendencies are put under...this reminds me of when someone said "chew spit" was a new eating disorder, when really it's already part of some existing eating disorder.
Yeah, I'm with all of the other people. Also, a lot of the ones that you listed as being part of EDNOS are their own diseases. (Binging without purging is just Binge Eating.) There is also the female Triad where a woman eats a normal amount, does not purge or restrict at all, but they exercise to the point of losing periods. Without the period loss, it would be considered EDNOS.
Also not having a healthy relationship with food doesn't automatically equal a disorder. Some people are just uneducated and don't realize that what they are doing is unhealthy. I can't tell you how many girls that I know personally think that a 500 calorie diet is okay. To be classified as an actual disorder you must either have a psychological issue resulting in body dysmorphia, something mental that is triggering the relationship with food, or some sort of lack of self-control or the need to overly control it. Anything else (if you agree with the psychological/dietetic approaches) can be treated with nutritional education. Eating disorders are mental.
Sorry for the long-winded psuedo rant. I'm working on becoming a dietitian (still a bit away), and the treatment of eating disorders is what I want to work in. Not to mention that I was bulimic for 10 years myself. Eck. (yay recovery!)
And not to totally knock your post down, this was a good idea. A lot of people don't know that you can have a disorder that fits into things other than Anorexia or Bulimia and therefore don't seek help.
I was diagnosed with EDNOS almost 15 years ago, when a portion of the medical field didn't aknowledge it as a disorder... but they started out that way with all the eating disorders... and other health issues.
Made me think of that episode of The Golden Girls when Dorothy had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and most of her doctors just thought she was crazy... which, by their standards depression = crazy.
It's not a new ED by any means.
I was diagnosed with EDNOS two years ago after recovering from being bulimic for three years.
its not new. its just only becoming known to the world now.
but its been around just as long as the others pretty much
There is a difference between disordered eating and eating disorders, it has everything to do with intentions, how it disrupts a person's life and health, and other factors. Most people have disordered eating because they don't realize their unhealthy relationship with food. Eating disorders have a lot more psychology behind them.
represent.
I used to have that, really bad.. I've learned how to eat normally now, but if I'm extremely stressed, it can flare up again.
i'm glad "new" is in quotes.
i recommended this for one sentence fragment alone:
"Every single one of us deserves to heal"
just read that over and over.
Every single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to healEvery single one of us deserves to heal
when you hear something about yourself enough times, it becomes true. that's why abuse works. that's why you believe you're worthless to begin with. so let's try this new phrase on for size.
Every single one of us deserves to heal
I deffinatly think that alot of people stuggle with that. Though Im sure many of them would prefer to deny its a problem and go about their daily lives acting like nothing wrong.
I have EDNOS and bulimia.
It's definitely not a new disorder. Like you said, a lot of women are diagnosed with this. I think that it is good that there is a diagnosis that will label individuals who may have otherwise fallen through the cracks between the oh so common anorexia and bulimia. Everyone has a right to get help but it seems without a diagnosis of an eating disorder, women and men who need help will not be able to get it. It's a rather sad world out there how it works for eating disorders, and the criteria that needs to be there in order for people to get help. Canada is one of the worst places to get funding and insurance for medical help and counselling for people with eating disorders. America finally beat us on something.