YOUR HEALTH with Dr . Thakkar
YOUR HEALTH with Dr . Thakkar
EATING WELL FOR MIND AND BODY TOO LITTLE IS AS DANGEROUS AS TOO MUCH
Whilst obesity is a growing problem that often hits the press , and rightly so , we also need to consider those who may have an eating disorder . Eating disorders , particularly in men , have been highlighted in the national media of late . Broadly speaking , eating disorders can be categorised into anorexia nervosa , bulimia or a mixture of the two , sometimes referred to as an eating disorder not otherwise specified ( EDNOS ).
Anorexia often manifests as the inability of the person to recognise they are underweight and in fact , patients feel they are overweight despite being thin and malnourished . As such , behaviours such as obsession about weight , excessive exercising , vomiting and abuse of laxatives and other drugs , become the focus of daily life .
Bulimia is a cycle of binge eating and subsequently vomiting the ingested food . Triggers can be many-fold but often include stressful life events . The causes of eating disorders are multi-factorial and include peer and parental pressure , media , criticism , poor coping strategies and genetics .
Being overweight can increase the risk of cancer , high blood pressure , heart disease , diabetes , fatty liver and arthritis . There is no doubt that diet and exercise can reduce the risk of these conditions as well as improving mental health .
The Healthy Bucks programme http :// www . chiltern . gov . uk / article / 5458 / Get- Healthy-Bucks can help you find activities near you and can be found online , and Active Bucks offers similar help at http :// activebucks . co . uk /
The risks of having an eating disorder are equally as devastating and can be life threatening . Complications include mental health disorders such as depression , anxiety and obsessive neuroses , malnutrition , osteoporosis , rupture of the oesophagus , muscle disorders , dental cavities , heart failure , and abnormalities of electrolytes such as potassium that may , in some cases , lead to cardiac arrest and death .
It is essential that if you , or if you think a loved one , may be suffering from an eating disorder early help is sought . Remember , it ’ s common for those with an eating disorder to hide their behaviour , and both men and women may be affected . As such , a high degree of vigilance is required . If concerned , you absolutely must see a doctor .
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Dr . Thakkar is a GP at Pound House Surgery
Chiltern Clinical Commissioning Group