In today's episode, Jennifer McGurk will help us understand some of the truths and myths about eating disorders. In particular, we'll cover these three truths and discuss the myths behind them.

Truth #1: Many people with eating disorders look healthy, yet may be extremely ill.

Truth #4: Eating disorders are not choices, but serious biologically influenced illnesses.

Truth #5: Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, body shapes and weights, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses.

What is an eating disorder?

Psychological disturbance in the brain that comes out with disordered eating patterns.  If you're like a lot of people, you might think of anorexia as an eating disorder. But that's only one piece of what makes up disordered eating. Did you know that “disordered eating” is everywhere?

Some eating disorders are easier to recognize, such as anorexia or binging and purging. But did you know that disordered eating can arise from chronic dieting, thinking about food a lot, and even strict attempts to "eat clean"?

Dietitians, clinical nutritionists, and therapists are often the first health care professionals to see disordered eating habits/patterns with clients (who may not even realize it’s a problem).

Here are some of the forms that eating disorders can take:

1. Binge-eating: dieting
2. Bulimia
3. Anorexia
4. Disordered eating: chronic dieter, thinks about food a lot
5. Orthorexia:
6. Extreme picky eating: avoidant restrictive feeding disorder (ARFD)
7. Ellyn Satter: normal eating

I don't specialize in eating disorders, but I can't avoid it in my practice. It often sneaks a ride when my patients are working through other issues, like these:

Food Sensitivities & Digestive Disorders:

People with food sensitivities often develop disordered eating patterns because of fears that certain foods will harm them. I love helping people find freedom from this fear by finding the foods that truly do support their well-being.

Chronic Dieting: 

People who diet often usually complain that they're always thinking about food, rarely enjoying it, and worry about all the confusing information around food. Restricting foods also often leads to the rebound "binge" eating, which usually marks the end of the diet. Before the next diet, last supper eating ensues (because you may never get the foods you really want again!). Constant food restriction and extreme diets also slows the dieter's metabolism, making their relationship with food all the more challenging. As you can imagine, it takes a big toll on the body, too!

Clean Eating:

In the sincere quest for clean, healthy eating, disordered eating often sneaks up on us. This can lead to fears about "unclean" or "unhealthy" foods. Lots of food rules and food trends can trigger obsessive thoughts about food. Sometimes, a person will follow an extreme food trend that sacrifices their mental, emotional, and even physical well-being.

The Academy of Eating Disorders declared these as the official truths about eating disorders:

Truth #1: Many people with eating disorders look healthy, yet may be extremely ill.

Truth #2: Families are not to blame, and can be the patients’ and providers’ best allies in treatment.

Truth #3: An eating disorder diagnosis is a health crisis that disrupts personal and family functioning.

Truth #4: Eating disorders are not choices, but serious biologically influenced illnesses.

Truth #5: Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, body shapes and weights, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses.

Truth #6: Eating disorders carry an increased risk for both suicide and medical complications.

Truth #7: Genes and environment play important roles in the development of eating disorders.

About our guest: Jennifer McGurk, RDN, CDN, CDE, CEDRD is the owner of Eat With Knowledge in Nyack, NY and specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and emotional eating.  Her passion is to help people find peace and balance with food.  She is also the author of the Pursuing Private Practice series on how to start and grow a business.   

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