By: Shalini Manchi
Edited by Vanshi Kumar
While its name might be a modern invention, eating disorders have existed as early as 700 BC. From being considered medicinal hysteria to an illness, perceptions behind eating disorders have evolved to become a serious matter today. To fully understand the workings of an Eating Disorder, It is important to take into consideration its history, perceptions around it, and the research behind it.
Observations and studies from the time of the Roman Empire have shaped the terminology behind eating disorders. Known for their lavish banquets, Romans often often rid themselves of food to attend their next feast.
This behavior, centuries later, helped to coin the term Bulimia Nervosa, whose symptoms include induced vomiting or taking laxatives in fear of gaining weight after binge eating. In the 14th to 17th centuries, a period of religious awakenings, much of daily life was surrounded by religious beliefs.
One among them was the fear of food and how indulgence was sinful. To prove their love for good, women starved themselves. During this time, the term Anorexia was used to describe this behavior by physician Sir William Gull, and English physician Morton described its symptoms to be similar to wasting away from the body. In 1959, Dr Albert Stunkard described Binge eating. At first called “Night eating disorder,” it was later classified to occur at all times of the day. Before this conclusion, binge eaters were considered emotional overeaters or food addicts due to binge eating disorder studies being conducted in a weight loss population.
As the terminology and awareness about the impact of eating disorders grew, so researched treatment and medication to combat the illness. In the early 1900s, “Parentectomy” was considered the optimal treatment for an eating disorder. However, separating the patient from their parents yielded no effective results. Along with treatment, there was research to provide better healthcare simultaneously. Significant psychological analysis was also conducted to understand the inner workings of Eating disorders.
In the 1800s, Anorexia Nervosa became regarded as both physical and psychological after significant research studies were published on the topic. American Doctor Hilde Bruch’s research impacted most ideas surrounding Anorexia Nervosa. However, this research became outdated after more modern research linked Anorexia Nervosa to a genetic and biological occurrence. In 1952, it was included in the first edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-I). Likewise, research on Bulimia Nervosa in the 1960s-70s included books and papers describing Binge eating and purging. It was during the 1980s when awareness of Eating disorders grew. It prompted celebrities like Princess Diana of Wales to share their struggles with the public.
Today, due to several years of research, treatment and medications for Eating Disorders are available to many. Apart from this, Eating Disorder Awareness has reached far and wide and is being covered on various platforms. Since an Eating disorder is an illness that affects both the mind and body, the treatment is also quite varied across platforms. For the patient, the primary focus is medicinal, nutritional, and mental health needs. The family or caregiver receives training and family therapy. This indicates that recovery is a team effort and a step-by-step process.
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