Episode 210: Eating Disorders

 

Eating disorders have among the highest mortality rates of all mental disorders, killing up to 6 percent of their victims. Each year millions of people across the world are affected by serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorders. The vast majority - more than 90% - of those afflicted with eating disorders are adolescent and young adult women

Despite the fact that many people think of an eating disorder as being an unhealthy quest for a perfect body, eating disorders are not about vanity and not really about weight. Eating disorders are not solely disorders of eating; they are complex, psychological illnesses where people try to control conflict and stress in their lives by controlling food.

'Anorexia and Bulimia' are serious eating disorders. The biggest difference between anorexia and bulimia is that people suffering from bulimia eat large amounts of food and then throw up. This is called binge and purge. Anorexics do not eat large amounts and throw up. They in fact, starve themselves.

In Singapore, the incidence of both anorexia and bulimia has been growing steadily. While there are no nationwide figures on eating disorders, SGH doctors say they saw 20 to 30 patients a year before 2002. In 2006, the number of cases rose to 164.

In Tab Chat, a young girl in her mid twenties shares with us her experience. She tells us how she has suffered both anorexia and bulimia and how she managed to fight her way out of the jaws of these terrible eating disorders.

by MediaCorp