Eating disorders were long thought to be problems of their own. The treatment of these eating disorders, however, are all linked to the symptoms and causes of mental health illnesses, which left medical experts to believe that eating disorders might considerably be mental health illnesses along with their own.
The fact that someone can recognize an eating disorder as a serious mental health illness, is a positive factor, as it adds up to an even bigger problem than eating too little or too much food, feeling guilty for eating a little more or certain types of foods, as well as under-nourishing yourself because of the way you think.
Basic genetics doesn’t necessarily influence eating disorders, but if a child has the wrong idea of food, which is taught to them by their parents or siblings, due to their disorder, being pressured might also be another reason people develop mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety and many other psychiatric conditions.
Basic genetics does, however, have a biological basis, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and any type of mental state relatable to addition.
Why Eating Disorders are Classified as Mental Illnesses
There are many reasons why eating disorders are classified as mental health illnesses of their own.
It is due to scientific evidence that states that eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, as well as bulimia, are heritable, along with other mental conditions.
If anybody imitates the behaviour of restricting their food intake, purging or binging on food, they have a direct response to the brain that alters the structure thereof and places an effect on how they think about the act of consuming food. The same goes for their metabolism and neurochemistry. These factors all play a psychological role in what it means to have an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are all associated with an unbalanced cognitive and emotional functioning, which limits an individual from living an ordinary life. If you overthink about what you’re eating, for instance, there’s no way you can enjoy food, especially considering that humans need it every day to survive. Another fact about eating disorders, which makes them relatable to mental illnesses, is that they are life-threatening disorders, which can be associated with many other complications regarding your well-being.
Anorexia nervosa, for instance, have the highest rate of deaths amongst eating disorders.
The Law on Eating Disorders
Laws in the U.S, have excluded eating disorders from being mental illnesses. It furthermore denies patients to receive medical insurance for eating disorders, as it is not classified to be a severe mental illness, but rather a sub-disorder or symptom thereof.
The results of such laws have resulted in a lifelong struggle for health consequences, as well as an increased rate of fatalities amongst patients who cannot afford proper medical treatment for their disorders.