When food is an obsession

1. The only eating disorder I know of is anorexia, what else are there?

In addition to anorexia nervosa, as anorexia is officially called, the two best-known others are: eating disorders bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder (BED).

It is estimated that about 5,500 people in the Netherlands suffer from anorexia and about 22,300 from bulimia. About 1 percent of adults have binge eating disorder. Anorexia and bulimia are much more common in women than in men. The exact distribution of binge eating disorder is not known, but it is estimated that it is equally common in women and men.

2. What does such an eating disorder entail, what is it that bothers you?

If you suffer from an eating disorder, you are extremely preoccupied with food and your weight. This greatly influences your daily functioning.

If you anorexia you are very afraid of becoming fat, even if you are well below the weight that is actually normal for your age and height. Even though you can count your ribs, you still have the feeling that you are abnormally fat. Losing weight has become an addiction for you. You have the feeling that it gives you something to hold on to and it gives you a sense of control.

Do you have bulimiaThen you regularly binge eat. You eat in a short amount of time an amount that other people would absolutely not eat in that time. During the binge, you lose all control: you feel like you can’t stop eating or you can’t control what or how much you eat. You don’t want to gain weight, so you vomit, take laxatives or try to die a fanatically for a period of time.

At a binge eating disorder you eat an unusual amount during regular binge eating. You feel like you have no control over this. After such a binge, you feel gloomy, guilty or disgusted with yourself. Unlike with bulimia, you don’t try to get rid of the food by vomiting or taking a laxative. Binge eating disorder (BED) is also known as binge eating disorder.

3. Is treatment possible?

Yes, if you suspect you have an eating disorder, see your doctor. He or she will refer you to a psychologist or a clinic specialized in eating disorders. During the therapy you learn a healthy eating pattern. If you have anorexia, you gradually learn to eat normally again and you also learn to deal with the fear you experience when you think about food.

In bulimia, the focus is on learning a regular eating pattern.

For all eating disorders, an important part of the therapy is looking at the causes of the eating disorder.

4. What can you do as a loved one of someone with an eating disorder?

If you think that a family member, friend or someone else close to you has an eating disorder, first try to get a good idea of ​​his or her eating pattern. Then you can start a conversation about what you noticed. Indicate that you are concerned and that you would like to help if that person is open to it.

In any case, what you should not do is force him or her to eat or visibly control the eating behavior. This is counterproductive. What you can do is do things together that have nothing to do with food, to maintain contact.

It is important to realize that there is little you can do about the eating disorder, but you can encourage your family member or friend to seek professional help. Offer to go to the doctor.

Would you like personal advice? You can ask (anonymous) advice from a care provider from Correlation. More information about complaints and causes of eating disorders and an experience story can be found on the website of Mental Health Fund.