Is an ED a rich girl disease?

As someone who has struggled with disordered eating, I often would feel guilty for the way I felt towards food because I believed I didn't deserve to feel the way I did. It feels like a privileged position to constantly worry about food and calories to stay skinny, while others are struggling to put food on the table to survive. 

However, through my research, I have found that eating disorders are a lot more deep-rooted than just calories but rather a link to controlling a situation. In this week's post I will be answering the question- Is having an eating disorder a disease for the privileged? If you are triggered by the topic please don't feel the need to read this week's post.   

There are three main causes for someone to develop an eating disorder; 

Genetic- there can be a family history of eating disorders or mental health conditions that lead to one developing an eating disorder.  

Environment- growing up in a culture with unrealistic body standards can lead to deceiving ideas about body image and weight.   

Psychological- one who struggles with anxiety or perfectionism can use food to control something in their lives.

According to Teen Health Care, 1 in 100 women will struggle with anorexia in their lifetime, therefore making anorexia and bulimia most commonly found in females. However, bulimia is 1.5 times more likely to be found in a teen girl who comes from a low-income family than one from a middle/upper-class family. 

As well as girls and adult women, the LGBTQ community has a high percentage of people who struggle with EDs. Transgender students are 5 times more likely to struggle with ED than their peers, often due to internalised shame or distress over body image. However, of people struggling with eating disorders, 47% of binge eating disorder patients are men and men are 67% of reported restrictive food intake disorders. Through this research it is clear that eating disorders are not restricted to one gender.  

So far I have mainly discussed anorexia and bulimia since they are the most known EDs, however, many other EDs are not recognised which often means they will go untreated. Therefore many people who struggle with an eating disorder will never be treated, especially people of colour who are often overlooked in the sector.  

Eating disorders are a treatable mental health illness and one must break the chain between your relationship with food and control since perfectionism is often the root of the disease (easier said than done). From this post I hope you have learnt that ED is not just a rich girl disease, it can affect anyone since mental health illnesses don't discriminate. 

If you are struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please ask for help from a friend or family member. And remember- food is fuel. 

Love, Aria 

XO