Insights on Food, Disorders, and Optimized Eating in 2023
Discover the enlightening insights of CNN's Madeline Holcombe on food, disorders, and the art of eating better in 2023 Unveil the truth behind eating disorders, challenge normalized disordered eating, debunk the myth of dieting's efficacy, and embrace a culture that cherishes and delights in the joy of food
This year, I learned to truly savor the deliciousness of bagels. After a day of hard work in the garden, I found myself in the kitchen, holding a bagel and reflecting on the events of the day.
I've known the voice in my head for most of my life, and it was telling me to eat something with more greens and fewer calories. But my tired body was craving carbohydrates.
My experience as a CNN wellness writer has taught me that ignoring my body's needs only harms my health. It took time to convince the persistent voice in my head of this.
This year was focused on silencing that inner voice, recognizing that an eating disorder is more harmful than failing to meet a beauty ideal, and not just consuming that bagel, but savoring it without guilt.
Eating disorders affect everyone.
When asked to envision someone with an eating disorder, the typical image that comes to mind is a thin, affluent, white teenage girl suffering from anorexia or bulimia nervosa. This stereotypical portrayal prevents many other individuals from receiving the necessary care and treatment, according to experts.
It's not just older teenage girls who we need to watch for eating disorders, experts said.
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Pediatric eating disorder hospitalizations are rising. Who is affected may surprise you
Writer Emily Boring emphasized that disordered eating and formal eating disorders do not have a certain look. In a CNN interview in March, she shared her experience with an eating disorder, highlighting that they can affect anyone regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, or socioeconomic status. She also noted that disordered eating and eating disorders are not exclusive to those with a thin or underweight body. One study this year found that hospitalizations for pediatric eating disorders have been on the rise, particularly among demographics that are often overlooked, such as males, young adolescents, and those with diagnoses other than anorexia or bulimia nervosa.
Hospitalizations of young male patients rose by 416% from 2002 to 2020, with a 196% increase in patients ages 12 to 14 and a 255% increase in those with eating disorders other than anorexia or bulimia nervosa, as reported in the December research.
The manifestations of an eating disorder can differ from the stereotype, with some being unrelated to the desire for a smaller body.
Seeking a more toned physique and a preoccupation with consuming "clean" or "healthy" foods can also trigger disordered eating patterns. Other conditions include binge eating disorder and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), marked by the avoidance of certain food groups due to reasons such as texture or fear of vomiting.
Dr. Stuart Murray, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Southern California and director of the Translational Research in Eating Disorders Laboratory, explained in February that ARFID goes beyond being picky. The disorder can lead to problems with energy or nutritional needs, as well as weight loss, faltering growth, and difficulties with psychological and social functioning. This wide range of effects means that even those who don't fit the stereotype of an eating disorder may still be affected. According to the nonprofit ANAD, which supports people with eating disorders, 1 in 10 people worldwide are affected by these conditions.
Disordered eating is way too normalized
Even for those who dont fit the criteria of an eating disorder, disordered eating can be a big problem.
Unhealthy eating habits can manifest as disordered eating, which involves a problematic relationship with food and exercise, even if it does not reach the level of a clinical disorder. This may include worrying restrictions and strict rules regarding eating and physical activity.
As we enter the winter holiday season, shame-based diet culture pressure often increases, writes Katie Hurley.
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Dont serve disordered eating to your teens this holiday season
And it needs to be taken seriously, both for the depth in which it affects US adults and children, and the breadth.
A February study found that over 20% of children and teens globally exhibit symptoms of disordered eating. According to Jennifer Rollin, founder of The Eating Disorder Center in Rockville, Maryland, both disordered eating and eating disorders require serious treatment and professional help.
Disordered eating is a pervasive issue due to society's emphasis on being extremely thin, according to Rollin. This normalization of harmful behaviors such as calorie counting and self-punishing exercise makes it difficult to acknowledge the potential harm.
Dieting isnt all that helpful
This year, dietingwith the restriction, shame and calorie countingstarted to look a lot less appealing, according to the latest research.
Diet culture is the root of disordered eating, restrictive dieting, and negative body image issues. It promotes the idea that there is only one ideal body type, leading to extreme measures to achieve it. It is perpetuated by fatphobic jokes in media, parents obsessing over their children's calorie intake, limited representation of body types in fashion, and the belief that certain foods are "good" while others are "bad."
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Diet culture and its restrictive practices are pervasive and may have negative effects. While some studies suggest weight loss to reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease and cancer, research and personal experiences show that restrictive dieting often does not lead to lasting weight loss.
According to a 2017 study, the most effective way to change diet and exercise habits is to do so gradually and in manageable steps.
The National Eating Disorders Association states that messages about diet culture not only promote dieting, but also hinder the recovery from eating disorders.
We deserve to enjoy food
The case for ditching diet culture shouldnt just focus on whether or not it will actually make your body smaller, however.
I discovered this year that everyone should have the opportunity to savor food, regardless of their body size and shape. The critical voice in my head that questioned my food choices was preventing me from fully enjoying my meals and connecting with others.
Black students eating lunch in school cafeteria
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Healthy eating curriculum can do more harm than good
According to Charlotte, North Carolina dietitian Natalie Mokari, this is a common experience for many people. She noted that the pattern often shifts from feelings of shame and restriction to dissatisfaction and a lack of control over food.
Mokari recommended, "Ultimately, order something that will satisfy you and make you feel good when you leave the restaurant so you don't end up spending $20 on lunch and still feel hungry, searching for snacks. The more satisfied you are with your meal, the less likely you will mindlessly snack."
Our bodies naturally signal when to move, rest, or indulge in certain foods. However, shame can often disrupt these cues, according to Mokari. The key is to develop a healthier relationship with food and our bodies to better understand and respond to these signals.
Food and dining play a significant role in numerous cultural and social gatherings. Mokari emphasizes that one shouldn't miss out due to concerns about meeting certain restrictions. "In my opinion, sharing a meal with others is one of life's many joys," she added. "Enjoy the company you're with."
