Is there a Link between Mental Illness and Eating Disorders?
Not only is there a link, but eating disorders are mental illnesses.
Believe it or not, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has recognized eating disorders as mental illnesses since the ’80s. The reality is that eating disorders are 100% medical in nature
The consequences of extreme eating disorders are grave health problems and potential mortality.
Most damning is the fact that eating disorders stem from complex mental health processes. These processes can involve obsessive thoughts mostly around body image which then result in compulsive food intake or purging mechanisms.
It’s distressing to know that studies show more prevalence of eating disorders in women than in men.
· Anorexia is 3 times as common in women than in men.
In extreme Anorexia cases, patients can suffer great weight loss along with a twisted body image. Pathological dieting and extreme food restriction can then result from an Anorexic’s extreme dread of weight gain.
· Bulimia is 3 times as common in women than in men.
Excessively working-out, self-induced vomiting and laxatives abuse after frequent binge eating are the common signs of Bulimia Nervosa.
· Binge Eating Disorder is 1.75 times more common in women than in men.
People suffering from binge eating disorder have periods of compulsive feasting. These periods are also associated with feelings of guilt and a sense of no self-control.
Is there a link between substance abuse and eating disorders?
Studies have shown that sometimes, people with eating disorders suffer from substance abuse disorders as well. This phenomenon is not uncommon at all.
8.1% of the US population suffered from Substance Abuse Disorders in 2014. This translates to a whopping 21.5 million people in the United States alone. Of those 21.5 million people, 40% reportedly struggled with mental disorders as well.
The link between substance abuse and eating disorders, especially in adolescents, has been researched and documented widely.
Research shows that 50% of people struggling with eating disorders are/will most likely struggle with substance abuse disorder as well. However, only 9% of the general population are at risk of being diagnosed with drug abuse disorder.
Again, 35% of people with substance abuse disorders suffer from eating disorders too. However, only 3% of the general population struggles with an eating disorder.
This means that it is 5% more likely for a person struggling with an eating disorder to abuse alcohol and drugs than a “normal” person. Even worse is the fact that a person struggling with substance abuse is 11 times more likely to have an eating disorder as well.
The relationship between substance abuse and eating disorder
Drugs have been known to affect appetite. Cannabinoids such as marijuana cause increased appetite and a change in eating habits. Stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine are known to reduce appetite significantly.
Persistent appetite changes as a result of drug use can cause a significant change in eating patterns which can then drive the abuser to an eating disorder.
Because marijuana increases appetite, it can be considered a culprit in some binge eating cases.
On the other hand, eating disorders with symptoms of restricted food intake such as anorexia can be caused by drugs that reduce appetite. Alcohol abuse has also been associates with certain eating disorders, especially Bulimia.
The association of alcohol abuse to eating disorders can be made worse by other psychological/personality disorders such as;
Impulsivity — substance abuse and eating disorders have both been linked to reward sensitivity.
The reward circuitry of the brain is stimulated by food and water. The reward mechanism itself can be altered by personality or psychological disorders. These two factors are very important links to the development of eating and substance abuse disorders.
Abuse of food and drugs can therefore alter the diet and calorie intake of an individual which can either lead to or hasten eating disorders.
Research has also pointed out the possibility of another theory; eating disorders can also cause drug abuse problems.
For example;
When someone is already struggling with an eating disorder, they may choose to suppress their appetite even further by using stimulants. As they are desperately trying to lose weight, they may look for substances that will help them restrict their food intake.
Depriving yourself of food may also alter the reward pathways of the brain. This makes it possible for a person to abuse drugs that will help them get that rush from their brain.
Eating disorders and Substance abuse have a common anatomy
Research has shown that personality traits increase the chances of developing both drug and eating disorders.
· Novelty seekers; people who are always seeking out new experiences.
· Impulsive personalities; a person who makes decisions in the heat of the moment.
· Neurotic personalities; people with low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.
· People who have difficulties regulating their emotions; maladaptive reactions to emotions can push someone to develop eating or substance abuse disorder.
· High interpersonal sensitivity; when a person can perceive other people’s emotions and motivations very well.
There are certain traits in these personality disorders that may make a person more sensitive to emotional and environmental pressures. Trauma has also been linked to substance abuse and eating disorders.
The interaction of substance abuse and eating disorder may worsen each other.
Both of these disorders cause guilt, while eating disorders can lead to substance abuse as a form of self-medication.
Studies show that bulimia is strongly associated with substance abuse compared to anorexia. This could be because of the binging nature of people with bulimia. Anorexics suffer from restrictive eating behavior. They may not be as willing to eat things as is the case with Bulimia.
