Posts Tagged “Physical Health”

You don’t know what to do. You’ve never had to worry about your twelve-year-old son before. His school report cards consistently reflect his conscientiousness, situating him comfortably at the top of his classes. He demonstrates the same drive outside the classroom, where he’s established himself as a dependable scorer for the school’s soccer team.

But something’s been off lately, giving you a gnawing feeling in your gut. Your son seems to be regressing to the picky eating of his childhood. His palette is increasingly limited these days, and he alleges digestive problems when asked to gather with the family for dinner. He used to have a tight-knit group of friends, but recently has been declining birthday party invitations and isolating himself. His soccer coach has called you and suggested your son take a leave from the team—he fainted during this evening’s practice.

You know you need to act, but you’re facing pushback from your son. He meets your concerns with heightened defensiveness, firmly denying that anything is wrong. He’s doubling down on his already rigid study schedule, convinced that any disruptions will derail his high-achieving track. You understand that school can wait, but you’re struggling to get your son on board with taking the time for treatment. Is it possible his reaction and this resistance are related to his unusual food behaviors? You reason it would be easier for him to continue his top performance if he wasn’t battling these food issues, but you can’t be sure. You need guidance from those who have walked this path before—that’s where we come in.

Unlike some other mental health diagnoses, eating disorders have a high prevalence of associated medical complications. In fact, eating disorders are responsible for more than 3 million lost healthy years annually worldwide and are the second deadliest of all psychiatric diagnoses, second only to opioid use disorder.

Virtually every organ and system in the human body can be impacted by disordered eating, with effects ranging from mild to severely debilitating—and even life-threatening—depending on the duration and intensity of the illness.

As with all eating disorder-related complications, intervening early and connecting with a specialty care team are key to mitigating the risks of lasting physical damage.

**Content warning: This post includes discussion of purging behaviors. Please use your discretion when reading and speak with your support system as needed.

Bulimia nervosa, like all eating disorders, is associated with both long- and short-term health consequences. Without professional help, this illness is incredibly damaging to the body––even life-threatening. With early intervention and treatment, however, it’s possible to prevent these health effects from becoming lifelong issues. In this blog, we will discuss what bulimia entails, the warning signs and symptoms, and the physical health effects so that you can help those struggling get connected to help as soon as possible.

What is Bulimia?

Bulimia is characterized by recurrent binge eating and purging behaviors, along with a preoccupation with body appearance. Those diagnosed with the condition typically consume large amounts of food in a discrete period of time and then purge in an effort to control their body weight or shape. Purging can include self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic misuse, insulin mismanagement, and excessive exercise. 

Anorexia nervosa is arguably the most well-known eating disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Although anorexia is the eating disorder people often think of first, public understanding of the prevalence and severity of the condition is still limited. In this blog, we will cover the basics of anorexia, including the signs, symptoms, and physical effects. 

What is Anorexia?

Low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and body image disturbance are the main characteristics of anorexia nervosa. There are two types of anorexia: restricting type and binge eating/purging type. Most commonly associated with anorexia is the restricting type, characterized by extreme restriction but no bingeing or purging behaviors. The binge eating/purging type of anorexia includes recurrent episodes of binge eating or purging, such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

Is Intermittent Fasting Safe?

At Veritas Collaborative, we urge caution when considering intermittent fasting due to the numerous health risks associated with this dietary trend. Our comprehensive analysis reveals a range of negative physical and mental side effects of intermittent fasting, including but not limited to, hunger, headaches, and mood disturbances. The long-term safety and effectiveness of intermittent fasting are still largely unconfirmed, with most research studies being limited in size and duration. Most concerning is the heightened risk of developing eating disorders, a serious issue that should not be overlooked. We strongly recommend consulting with healthcare professionals before embarking on any fasting regimen. Our stance, based on the evidence at hand, is that intermittent fasting poses significant risks and is not a universally safe approach to dieting or health improvement.

Understanding The Side Effects Of Fasting

At Veritas Collaborative, we urge caution when considering intermittent fasting due to the numerous health risks associated with this dietary trend. Our comprehensive analysis reveals a range of negative physical and mental side effects of intermittent fasting, including but not limited to, hunger, headaches, and mood disturbances. The long-term safety and effectiveness of intermittent fasting are still largely unconfirmed, with most research studies being limited in size and duration. Most concerning is the heightened risk of developing eating disorders, a serious issue that should not be overlooked. We strongly recommend consulting with healthcare professionals before embarking on any fasting regimen. Our stance, based on the evidence at hand, is that intermittent fasting poses significant risks and is not a universally safe approach to dieting or health improvement.

Is Fasting Bad for You? The Side Effects of Intermittent Fasting

A favorite idea of diet culture is that weight loss is always good because being thin supposedly equals being healthy. We know this is not the case. But with intermittent fasting claiming to improve health and promote weight loss, it is not hard to see why diet culture has latched onto it. It is important to understand that diets have an effect on our minds as well as our bodies.

Is fasting bad for you? The following are some of the negative side effects of intermittent fasting:

1. Hunger and cravings
2. Headaches and lightheadedness
3. Digestive issues
4. Irritability and other mood changes
5. Fatigue and low energy
6. Bad breath
7. Sleep disturbances
8. Dehydration
9. Malnutrition

With this many downsides, the truth of whether fasting is bad for you should be readily apparent.

Research on Intermittent Fasting

You might think, “Not everyone experiences those symptoms,” or “Those symptoms are worth it if that means I’ll lose weight.” Despite the promises of weight loss, however, a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that “overweight” adults who fasted for 16-hour windows didn’t lose much more weight than the control group that did not fast, and most of the weight they did lose resulted from muscle loss. Long periods without eating can lead many people to overeat once the fasting period is over. One can see how this feels very similar to a restrict-binge cycle present in many eating disorders. The combined danger of fasting with the relatively low chances of achieving the effect you seek demonstrates that fasting is detrimental to your overall health in the short term. 

Is Fasting Good For You? 

The evidence of the long-term effectiveness and safety of intermittent fasting is still unknown. Many studies that have shown any improvement in certain health issues were done on rats, which limits what we know about the impact or positive side effects of intermittent fasting on humans. The majority of studies involving humans include only small sample sizes tracked over a short span of time. Many report measurable physiological outcomes like short-term weight loss, but they generally ignore any mental and emotional health effects, which is especially detrimental considering how closely linked weight loss and eating disorders can be. Several reports admit that fasting is not for everyone and include a generic recommendation to “check with a professional before starting any diet plan.” The reason intermittent fasting is detrimental is two-fold as it detracts from long-term goals and short-term well-being wellbeing at the same time.

Intermittent Fasting and Eating Disorders

Those who try intermittent fasting may be at greater risk for developing a severe eating disorder. Though eating disorders have no single cause, a key risk factor is dieting. Those who limit their eating to a small window could easily become hard on themselves for breaking their fast “too early” or eating “too late.” Any sort of anxiety or shame surrounding diet can be a warning sign of disordered behavior, which can lead to the development of an eating disorder in those susceptible. Depriving yourself of food for an extended period of time can also increase your stress levels, disrupt your sleep, increase anxiety and depression, and more. 

The trend of intermittent fasting may also be especially harmful for those experiencing or recovering from an eating disorder. Intermittent fasting may hide restrictive behavior and thereby prolong the identification and treatment of a disorder like anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder. It can also make eating disorder recovery much more challenging. Recovery is about reconnecting with your body and learning to tune into natural hunger cues, which is exactly what intermittent fasting asks people to ignore. 

Restrictive eating plans like intermittent fasting can be harmful to one’s mental health as well as one’s physical health. It can also be extra dangerous for those who are at risk of an eating disorder. These things are an essential part of the conversation surrounding intermittent fasting that should not be ignored.

Key Takeaways about Intermittent Fasting

• Challenging Diet Culture: The narrative that equates thinness with health is pervasive and often misleading. Intermittent fasting, despite its popularity, propagates this idea by promising improvements in health and weight loss, thereby reinforcing harmful diet culture stereotypes.
• Adverse Effects of Intermittent Fasting: Intermittent fasting can have several negative physical and mental consequences. These can range from feelings of hunger and cravings to physical discomforts such as headaches, lightheadedness, digestive problems, mood changes, fatigue, low energy, bad breath, and sleep disturbances. More severe issues may also include dehydration and malnutrition.
• Potential for Overeating: The study also noted a tendency for participants to overeat after fasting periods. This behavioral pattern mimics the restrict-binge cycle often seen in many eating disorders, raising concerns about the relationship between intermittent fasting and disordered eating habits.
• Unclear Long-Term Safety and Efficacy: The long-term safety and effectiveness of intermittent fasting remain uncertain. While some studies on rats have shown improvements in certain health issues, these results don’t necessarily translate to humans. Most human studies to date have involved small sample sizes and short durations, often overlooking the mental and emotional health effects, muddying the picture of the combined health impact of intermittent fasting.
• Increased Risk of Eating Disorders: Intermittent fasting could potentially increase the risk of developing eating disorders. Anxiety or shame related to dieting can indicate disordered behavior, potentially leading to eating disorders in susceptible individuals. For those recovering from an eating disorder, intermittent fasting may also hide restrictive behavior, delay the identification and treatment of the disorder, and complicate recovery efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Intermittent Fasting

Is intermittent fasting a safe and effective way to lose weight?

To put it simply, intermittent fasting is not universally safe and may come with a range of negative physical and mental side effects. The long-term safety and effectiveness of this practice are still largely unconfirmed.

What are the potential negative side effects of intermittent fasting?

Some of the negative side effects include hunger, headaches, digestive issues, irritability, mood changes, fatigue, bad breath, sleep disturbances, dehydration, and malnutrition.

Can intermittent fasting lead to eating disorders?

Yes, the practice has been linked to an increased risk of developing eating disorders. Anxiety or shame related to dieting can indicate disordered behavior, potentially leading to eating disorders in susceptible individuals.

Are there any studies that support the safety of intermittent fasting?

While some studies suggest potential health benefits, these are often limited in scope and duration. Most human studies have involved small sample sizes and short durations, often overlooking the mental and emotional health effects. Therefore, the long-term safety and effectiveness remain uncertain.

Should I consult a healthcare professional before starting intermittent fasting?

Absolutely. Given the significant health risks associated with intermittent fasting, it is imperative to consult with healthcare professionals before attempting any form of fasting.

If you or a loved one is struggling with food or body image and need help, Veritas Collaborative is here for you. Give us a call at 1-855-875-5812 or complete our online contact form

October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, which brings awareness to the need for depression and mental health screenings. Along with other mental health conditions, depression frequently overlaps with eating disorders. In this article, we will cover common myths about depression, how to support a loved one with depression and an eating disorder, and how to notice the signs of depression in order to get someone help.

Depression and other mood disorders co-occur with eating disorders quite frequently. Research shows that 32–39% of people with anorexia nervosa, 36–50% of people with bulimia nervosa, and 33% of people with binge eating disorder are also diagnosed with major depressive disorder. The relationship between depression and eating disorders is complex. Depression can make people more likely to feel negative about their bodies, which can put them at risk for an eating disorder. Eating disorders can make people more at risk for the development of depression, particularly if they experience rapid weight loss or starvation.

Episode description:

Dietitian Bailey Weirens joins Peace Meal to discuss the truth behind nutrition and healthy eating. Bailey discusses the importance of calories, why macro and micronutrients are important, and what recovery meal plans are. By advocating for an anti-diet approach to nutrition and promoting body acceptance, Bailey enlightens listeners on the importance of listening to our bodies in order to sustain long-term health and wellbeing.