Body Dysmorphia and Bulimic Inclination in Adults
Imagine looking forward to surprising someone you love. It could be a parent or a guardian, a partner, or anybody you cannot afford to lose. You softly open the door hoping to surprise them and then discover that they have been purging what they eat. They have lost a lot of weight in no time. As you spend more time together, you also notice them struggling with their body image and withdrawing from social situations. Your consolation does not serve them anymore because it becomes more than insecurity. They engage in unhealthy practices such as persistently checking themselves in the mirror, relying on laxatives, groundless exercising, monitoring their diet, and retching from time to time. Now, you are concerned and proceed with researching. This situation worsens over time and the only recourse is professional help, through which you realise that they have body dysmorphia and are inclining towards bulimia. Terrifying, isn’t it? This scenario is painful, but not uncommon.
Body dysmorphia is frequently confused with insecurity. Body Dysmorphia, otherwise known as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is an illness that involves an obsessive habit to focus on specific parts of the body and developing a distorted impression of themselves. People with body dysmorphia tend to conceal/alter their bodies. They worry about a broad range of parts, including facial features, body proportions, skin, and specific parts like breasts and genitalia. While insecurities can be life-altering, body dysmorphia is a clinical condition that affects several lives. It is acute. Some people with body dysmorphia will likely have eating disorders. One such eating disorder that co-exists with BDD is bulimia nervosa. Bulimia is an eating disorder where a person follows a cycle of binge eating and executing weight loss methods.
Although common symptoms include vomiting after overeating and a compulsive workout routine, bulimia looks different on every individual living with it. Rare symptoms include abusing laxatives and diuretics, skipping meals, consuming a lot of fluids, camouflaging and so on. Not everyone with body dysmorphia and bulimia will have the same symptoms, and the severity of these signs vary. Body dysmorphia and bulimia coincide because it is associated with body image issues. Based on the available evidence, these are two different disorders with a few symptoms in common such as attempting to remodel themselves and low self-esteem.
There is insufficient data on the population with this comorbidity. It is commonly believed that only youngsters have body dysmorphia and eating disorders. However, that is not true. A study conducted by The Renfrew Center in Pennsylvania reported that the number of middle-aged adults treated for bulimia increased by 42% from 2001–2010. Another research carried out by the International Journal of Eating Disorders reveal that 80% of their subjects were affected by their weight and proportions, and over 10% displayed symptoms of an eating disorder. That makes more than 53 million women who are over the age of 50 in the United States. There are very few shreds of studies that report people who have the comorbidity of these illnesses in adults.
Adults refrain from seeking help because they presume that only youngsters have these conditions. There are a few likelihoods for adults to have body dysmorphia and bulimia where the risk factors include genetics, emotional well-being, cultural expectations, or other issues. Firstly, this could stem from traumatic situations. Trauma reconstructs the human mind. People can feel stressed and hopeless which incites them to indulge in unhealthy coping mechanisms. Secondly, we live in a society that reveres unrealistic beauty standards. Only bodies that fit into a specified criterion is deemed ideal. People tend to compare their physique and it affects their self-esteem. It is tiresome for adults because the media throws a negative light on ageing. These standards aid them to pursue unfavourable routines to fit into their paradigm. Thirdly, they might have had these issues from a young age. It is not easy to unlearn practices they have been working on from their budding years. And lastly, it is still a possibility that body dysmorphia and eating disorders can recur at any point in life after their recovery. It is vital to remember that healing is not linear.
Even though several studies show that this comorbidity exists more in women, anybody can have body dysmorphia regardless of their gender. Here are some do’s and dont’s to support a loved one with this comorbidity:
Do:
- Encourage them to follow a self-care routine (such as journaling, writing love letters to their body, practising affirmations, shopping and so on)
- Have an honest conversation
- Provide genuine compliments that have nothing to do with their appearance
- Spend more time doing pleasurable activities
Don’t:
- Point out their changes
- Assume their weight or any of their concerns
- Force them to seek professional help
- Discuss matters related to “fitness” and diet culture
We are still reluctant to have candid discussions about mental illnesses associated with body image. So, if you discern someone with any of the symptoms, validate their exertions and prompt them to seek professional help without shaming them.
References:
Bell, Leigh. Middle-Aged Adults with Bulimia. Eating Disorders Hope, 25 January 2016, https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/bulimia-nervosa-in-the-middle-aged-adult.
