The Unknown One – Disordered Eating

Comment:

We regularly hear about eating disorders in the news, though disordered eating is far less common.

However this study estimates that 10-15% of women have disordered eating, so more needs to be done so that people are aware of it and that there are services available that can recognise it as the large problem that it is. 

Research:

Although anorexia and bulimia are the eating disorders that hog the headlines, disordered eating is as much if not more of a problem. It is estimated that 10-15% of women have disordered eating behaviours and attitudes, as found by a study carried out at the Université de Montréal and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute.

Lise Gauvin, a professor as the university says, “Our results are disquieting, women are exposed to many contradictory messages. They are encouraged to lose weight yet also encouraged to eat for the simple pleasure of it.”

The study had approx 1,501 women who took part in a phone survey on disordered eating and eating disorders. Of the women the average age was 31, urban living women who on average were non-smokers and had university degrees. Not a single one could be classified as anorexic. 

The study found that nearly 13.7% of the women interviewed reported they binged on food between 1 to 7 times per month, with 2.5% reporting use of laxatives, diuretics or forcing themselves to throw up in order to maintain their weight. 

Another find was that there was a link between those with problematic eating behaviours and self-rated health. Those who had more problems in their eating behaviour were more likely to perceive themselves to be in poor health. 

Original article can be found here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091218133307.htm