An article by Rebecca Kural, Co-Manager & Writing Editor
Anorexia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa. Orthorexia. All extremely serious and dangerous conditions that I had learned about since elementary school.
When my sixth grade class took the customary trip to Robert Crown (a center for kids health education infamous for giving the sex talk), I had been prepared for them to tell us about periods and our “changing bodies”. I didn’t expect to sit with my female classmates, gravely listening while a woman described how people weaponized food against themselves. It was hard for me to imagine that something so enjoyable and life-sustaining could be warped into a tool of self-destruction. The lady continued on to explain the hazardous and potentially fatal effects of anorexia and bulimia. She promised that there were countless resources if any among us needed help with such conditions.
On the contrary, I stumbled across the term “disordered eating” outside of the classroom- on social media to be exact. “Disordered eating is used to describe a range of irregular eating behaviors that may or may not warrant a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder” (www.eatright.org). Disordered eating can include (but is not limited to) inventing rules to self-regulate food, ignoring hunger cues, obsessively counting calories, and going on restrictive diets.
There is an acute feeling of clarity when you read something that shifts some of your scattered thoughts into place, breaking open the chrysalis of a new belief. This name meant that I could finally identify a pattern that I had noticed within myself as well as others, and I felt validated and intrigued. The possibility dawned on me that perhaps Robert Crown and public school had not provided a full, comprehensive education on the spectrum of disordered eating.
Disordered eating exists all around us. Furthermore, it is rarely noticed because it is so fluid and integrated into our society. Disordered eating is ignoring your hunger before taking pictures to avoid looking bloated*. It is barely consuming food on a holiday to “save calories” for the big dinner. It is drinking two iced coffee on an empty stomach because it suppresses your appetite. It is doing an intense workout to “earn” dessert. These disordered habits may seem small, but they are part of the fatphobic culture that festers in and is spread through primarily women. There is nothing wrong with trying to live a healthy lifestyle, but if you ignore your hunger cues solely to change or punish your body, it is disordered eating (that includes crash diets or “juice cleanses”).
In the age of social media memes and jokes, we become desensitized to our own destructive behaviors. We develop the ability to normalize almost anything because we find communities with whom we can relate our habits. There are jokes all over platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok regarding disordered eating. Jokes about making yourself feel nauseous because all you had was iced coffee instead of real food. Jokes about going through a breakup and then losing weight because you were so depressed that you didn’t eat at all. These habits should not be marketed as funny or relatable to viewers. Making these jokes only validates those who are disordered eaters.
These habits can slip dangerously towards anorexia or bulimia. However, even if someone is not forming a full fledged eating disorder, disordered eating is detrimental and a poor coping mechanism for negative body image. It is critical that girls identify destructive eating habits even if they don’t have a diagnosed eating disorder.
Teens are especially susceptible to disordered eating since they often become more independent in making and choosing their own food. Educating yourself on nutrition can help to better nourish yourself. Once I read about how carbs, protein and fat all serve our bodies in different and essential ways, I stopped demonizing certain foods and feeling as though I had to restrict myself. It is also essential to change our inner dialogue. Replace your guilt with appreciation for food that tastes great. Eating should NEVER feel shameful.
Another part of honoring your body is listening to your hunger cues. Eating mindfully and without distractions can be helpful in this. Try to identify how hunger feels in your body as well as fullness. There is no finish line when developing these skills, but every effort you make can enhance your quality of life.
It is extremely likely that readers of this newsletter have witnessed disordered eating in others or experienced it in themselves. If that is the case, I urge you to open a conversation with yourself and your friends about what it means to truly honor your body. Some good questions to ask yourself include: “What foods bring me joy?” “How can I fuel my body so that I feel my best?” and “What habits are harmful to me and how can I change them?”
Additionally, one of the best things that to do for your friends is eating freely and happily around them. Get brunch together and chat about your lives. Go for ice cream on a Sunday night and drive around. Set an example that food enhances life and should never be the enemy. And always ask your friends if they need support, instead of laughing it off when they joke about self-damaging habits.
I promise that your body is deserving of nourishing foods regardless of how it looks. Your stretch marks, rolls, or thick thighs (or lack thereof!) don’t warrant self- punishment. A toxic relationship with food is destructive towards your psyche as well as your body. No girl deserves to suffer in silence because they were never told that disordered eating is a real problem that warrants asking for help.
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