Eating behavior is one of the important behaviors that are necessary to sustain life and its development begins in infancy. Many variables play a role in the development of this behavior, these are; social environment, culture, caregiving skills of parents, motor, emotional and sensory skills. In other words, the importance and effects of eating behavior are quite multifaceted.
Eating disorders appear as a problem in which eating behavior is seriously impaired, resulting in inadequate or excessive food consumption due to the emotional and mental states of the person due to the effect of many factors. While this situation negatively affects the person's relationship with himself, it usually occurs in people who have problems with self-confidence. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder are the most common eating disorders in this disorder.
• Anorexia Nervosa; It is an eating disorder problem in which there is an obsessive fear of obesity along with the desire to be thin. The body image of people who have AN problem is quite distorted. For this reason, they tend to try to lose weight even when there is no need, and to resort to unhealthy methods (making oneself vomit, being hungry all the time, exercising more than the body needs). Not accepting their disease, not understanding its seriousness, having obsessive thoughts about weight, being well below their normal weight are among the main characteristics of people diagnosed with AN.
• Bulimia Nervosa; Unlike anorexia nervosa, it is a problem in which the body weight of people is normal or above normal and there are behaviors aimed at controlling weight. Individuals experience sudden and unstoppable food attacks, consume high-calorie foods in a short time, and then experience relief. However, they then turn to behaviors such as vomiting and using laxatives with the fear of getting fat and the feeling of regret. After a while, this becomes an unstoppable cycle and causes a depressed, tense mood.
• Binge Eating Disorder; It is another eating disorder with frequent eating attacks. People with this disorder constantly dream of eating, they want to eat even when they are full. They consume unhealthy and caloric foods, and eat comfortably and quickly when they are alone. Although they experience regret and self-criticism after the attacks, inappropriate compensatory behaviors seen in Bulimia Nervosa patients are not found. There are only constant attempts to diet, but they are not successful or the lost weight is regained. It is a disorder that affects socialization quite a lot.
The severity of an eating disorder is also a very important factor. It is recommended to start treatment if it disrupts the person's life flow and causes mental and physical problems. Individual psychotherapy techniques, family therapy, group psychotherapy and pharmacological treatment are among the treatment methods that can be used for treatment.
As this disorder, which can even become life-threatening, can go up to compulsory treatment and hospitalization, it is important to understand the seriousness of it, especially in the adolescence period, which has a critical period.
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