EATING DISORDERS: FAD, FACT OR FICTION?

Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Night Eating Syndrome, and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder- these names were alien to us once upon a time.

- Rifa Deka

Today, it is very common to find young adults showing symptoms of such eating disorders and some of their symptoms are so common today that we do not pay heed to them at all.

Phases, fads or lifestyle choices, whatever we may call them, eating disorders are on a rise in this part of the world after having affected the West. Although the prevalence of eating disorders is much lesser in our country as compared to other countries, we cannot deny the fact that there has been an increasing recognition of eating disorders among multicultural Indians. At first, the whole concept was alien to us, but now, thanks to mass media, we are more aware of the symptoms of various eating disorders and their consequences.

Eating Disorders, now officially recognized as mental disorders do not just affect people physically, but also take a toll on people’s health psychologically and socially. Eating Disorders can have life-threatening consequences, especially when those suffering from these are themselves unaware of what they’ve pushed themselves into.