Eating disorders are usually seen in girls during adolescence; These are diseases that can cause deteriorations in eating behavior and body perception. Although many genetic, biological, psychological and sociocultural factors may play a role in its formation, the main reason is psychological. Various theories in psychology have different interpretations of the disease, but the underlying cause is the mother-child relationship, the mother's perfectionist attitude and insecure attachment. In the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), which is used by the American Psychiatric Association in the diagnosis and classification of mental health disorders, eating disorders include pica, avoidant/restricted food intake disorder, rumination disorder, anorexia nervosa. , bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, another specified feeding and eating disorder (various types of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder [low frequency or limited duration], purging disorder, night eating disorder) and unspecified feeding and eating disorder
Eating disorders can occur in anorexia and bulimia, such as restricting food intake, engaging in excessive physical activity, and compensating for the feeling of guilt after eating by using laxatives, diuretics, or removing food, as well as binge eating disorder and night eating. It can also manifest itself by excessively increasing food intake in disorders such as syndrome.
In anorexia nervosa, body perception is distorted and individuals think that they are overweight even though they are below 85% of health norms (BMI is around 16-17 kg/m²). They constantly try to lose weight. They limit their food intake, have a lot of food-related activities, cook healthy foods for the people around them, but do not consume them themselves. They especially avoid carbohydrate and fat intake. In bulimia nervosa, eating attacks that occur by rapidly consuming harmful foods secretly from everyone accompany the disease. After the attack, feelings of guilt and helplessness emerge and the individual tries to compensate for this by purging or laxing. As a result of these, individuals may experience esophageal irritations and electrolyte disorders.
Binge eating disorder involves consuming a certain amount of food in attacks in a certain period of time (e.g. 2 hours). Its difference from bulimia is the absence of compensatory behaviors. Most of the patients who binge eat are obese. Night eating syndrome; It is a condition that occurs when 50% or more of daily calories is consumed after dinner or when one wakes up at night and eats. This is accompanied by sleep disorders.
Exam period; It is a period in which growth and development begin to be completed and nutrition has a very important place in adolescents, and concerns about the future may arise with increasing workload and responsibility. Factors such as the individual's personality characteristics and the family's expectations from the individual may affect the anxious situation experienced in this period.
Nutritional status is of great importance during the exam period, as in every period in an individual's life. Individuals who are under intense exam anxiety may be exposed to eating disorders due to impaired eating behavior during this period. While some individuals restrict their eating behavior due to the influence of other factors, others may choose to overeat in order to relieve their anxiety level. Especially in binge eating disorder, when an individual tries to reduce anxiety by eating and sees that he is successful, the reward-punishment mechanism comes into play and this behavior is reinforced as he eats.
So how can we solve eating disorders? The primary goal in the treatment of eating disorders is to provide psychological treatment. Depending on the patient's condition, psychotherapy and drug treatments can be carried out together. Nutritional support should be initiated in parallel. Nutritional treatment should be applied by determining the patient's needs and under the control of a dietician, and the target weight should be gradually achieved. Eating disorders should be evaluated by doctors, dietitians, psychologists and psychologists. These are multidisciplinary diseases that require the psychiatrist to work collaboratively, and the treatment should be carried out in this way. Breathing therapy can be used to relieve anxiety and bring the patient to a functional level in the patient who has an eating disorder due to exam anxiety. Therapies can be applied to control the stress level.
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