Eating Disorders Caused by Physical Symptoms

Although eating disorders are psychiatric illnesses, there are instances when a physical symptom causes the disorder to begin. Any symptom that leads to a prolonged difficulty eating has the same effect as a prolonged diet. Even if the food restriction is not psychological in nature, the eating disorder thoughts can arise since they are an adaptive response to food restriction, no matter the reason.

There are many examples of a symptom-induced eating disorder. Any illness that affects digestion such as Crohn’s disease, IBS or gastroparesis. People who have a problem swallowing or who regurgitate their food can develop an eating disorder. Severe constipation can make eating very difficult over time. And people who have a very limited ability to tolerate taste and texture can struggle to eat enough and develop an eating disorder.

Frequently, these people feel much more confused about how they developed an eating disorder and whether or not they even have one. At first they don’t have any of the other manifestations that come with most eating disorders and can’t easily identify with eating disorder treatment.

However, they start to have the same psychological symptoms in time: fears of gaining weight, starvation hunger and the powerful drive to eat, urges to binge and/or purge. Their symptoms begin to look more and more like an eating disorder the longer they go without normal eating.

These patients need to understand a few things that are different about their condition. They won’t need to focus as much on eating disorder thoughts at first. The physical trigger is a critical part of understanding what is happening so they need to make the best decisions to try to fix the underlying condition.

And for them quick and complete nutrition will help them get better much faster than most people with eating disorders. The psychological symptoms are usually more mild at first and they usually get diagnosed early since they are getting medical help for the primary condition. If they can nourish their bodies and minds quickly, the eating disorder thoughts will fade.

These cases are good examples of the varied ways an eating disorder can begin. Eating disorders are the brain’s adaptation to prolonged starvation of any cause. But taking into account the cause will lead to the most successful course of treatment.