It's Not Easy to Care for Loved Ones With Eating Disorders

Someone with a diagnosed eating disorder has exhibited notable impairments in their behaviors, cognition and feeding patterns. As a result, body weight and/or size has an excessive influence on feelings of self-worth and esteem.

This behavior usually comes at the expense of physical well-being and interpersonal functionality. For instance, the disruption of hormones from nutritional deficiencies can lead to sexual dysfunction and reproductive challenges, putting extra stress on romantic relationships and potentially causing separation.

Whether it's the effects of starvation from anorexia nervosa, compensatory purging behaviors from bulimia nervosa or overeating from binge eating disorder (BED), each type of eating disorder comes with its own considerations and potentially deadly medical repercussions.

In order to live fulfilling lives with a prosperous career and healthy, long-term relationships, people with an eating disorder must deal with it indefinitely. Support from partners and loved ones makes all the difference because eating disorders are regarded as family diseases.

The impact of eating disorders is universal, so knowing how to properly care for loved ones with a disorder—which may include yourself—is critical for everyone in the patient's circle of support.