Why Eating Disorders Are Way More Common Than You Think

Eating disorders are very serious psychological conditions
that can also be very dangerous - and they are much more common than you think.

Hosted by: Hank Green
----------

----------
Huge thanks go to the following Patreon supporters for helping us keep SciShow free for everyone forever:

Adam Brainard, Greg, Alex Hackman, Sam Lutfi, D.A. Noe, الخليفي سلطان, Piya Shedden, KatieMarie Magnone, Scott Satovsky Jr, Charles Southerland, Patrick D. Ashmore, charles george, Kevin Bealer, Chris Peters
----------
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?
----------
Sources:

Image Sources:

[LieutenantSheep]

It isn’t always about meeting a Beauty standard either. Food is used to cope with emotional pain and feel a sense of control over your life.

[YokiDokiPanic]

For nearly three years I had doctors urged me to "confess" to having anorexia or bulimia. When I was finally hospitalized put and on a feeding tube, I was visited by not one, but two psychologists who did everything they could to get me to admit I was doing this to myself for the sake of being thin. I wasn't. I was really sick. Eventually they found the real problem, only after I spent hours and hours researching medical papers; gastroparesis, pancreatic insufficiency. A little while later they found the cause of all this mess.; my appendix was in the 3rd stage of necrosis and was slowly poisoning me... I nearly died because medical professionals couldn't look past the fact I was a young woman losing weight.

[madeleinewade]

Another thing he didn’t cover (that i’ve suffered with) is an obsession with the pain of hunger as a side effect of depression like a sort of self mutilation. It felt like being hungry was something I “deserved” which was some super messed up thinking.

[leislingvoss]

Glad you mentioned ARFID - I've had doctors trying to get me to admit to unhealthy body image for years, and I got so incredibly tired of telling them "yes I'm not happy with my weight, but that's because my average is 20-30lbs under the healthy minimum for my height".
It's like most doctors dont think it's possible to have a reason other than body image for not eating. This particular diagnosis really needs to be more well-known.

[FishieKrackers]

Will also note that anorexia isn't about just looks for everyone. When I hit rock bottom, I was very suicidal, but knew I wouldn't but wanted to. So I turned to anorexia to not only starve myself, but my brain, hoping I'd be miserable enough to follow through with it. I wanted to see smaller numbers on the scale each day, bc that meant I was getting closer to death.

Today, I am in a much better place, and my only desire is to get better. I'm currently getting help and being active about my recovery. If anyone reading this, who's struggling with an eating disorder. Help is out there, and you deserve to be happy and healthy, it my be scary, but there will always be someone who will help and support. <3

[alexoc]

I got an ad for a weight loss program right before this video. Yikes

[emilyxo]

It always annoyed me that people just think it's skinny girls who have eating disorders. One of my best friends in high school constantly starved herself and was not skinny. I however was skinny (by nature) and was the one who was always told to "eat a burger" *rolls eyes* when really it was actually my friend who was bigger than me who wasn't eating. Btw, she is not starving herself these days and is beautiful.

[jklroxmysox]

As a therapist I fully agree that Binge Eating Disorder should have been included here

[subwayroomba]

I'm kinda disappointed there wasn't mention of binge eating disorder
And that bulimia doesn't always involve eating an excessive amount of food, just the act of "compensating" for your food intake

[FirstnameLastname-hqrd]

Surprised you left out orthoexia! it's an obsession with healthy or "clean" eating

[RangerRuby]

Eating disorders can be hard because it happens over time and privately. This video did a good job at expanding my understanding and awareness for these disorders.

[lokaas]

My ex-girlfriend studied dietetics and nearly 40% of the people that studied in that field at that university developed some sort of eating disorder during the 4 years of the course.

[asmrtpop]

Thank you thank you thank you for mentioning ARFID. I’m 28, have had ARFID practically my entire life, but only learned of the term in the last few years. A tip for parents with a “picky eater”:
-If your child chooses STARVATION over trying the food they insist they will vomit from...this is more than just being picky about dinner.
-Work WITH your kid, not AGAINST your kid. Work with the food groups they like and foods similar to it. Don’t expect them to try absolutely everything. And pay attention to their triggers.
-Remember that a diet need not be widely varied to be healthy and nutritious.

[yelyahrose]

It’s frustrating that BED wasn’t included in this. It’s recently been said it’s the most common eating disorder in America. It should definitely be talked about more.

[kerriganm]

I lost seven pounds in one week a while back which alarmed me as I was not dieting nor working out. Seven pounds, one week, accidentally. I saw my doctor at the end of the week and she just said, “well, you could stand to lose some weight.” Thanks, doc, you’ve really eased my mind. 😑

[ashrose]

When you're praised for losing weight, no matter the way you're doing it, and when you live in a culture that praises weight loss at all costs, it's easy to continue destructive behaviors, because they're encouraged. Coming from someone who has only lost weight through ED and exercise bulimia, realizing this was eye opening.

[aldenheterodyne]

When I get stressed, I don't eat. I always feel like I'm on the edge of puking and I feel shaky. Food textures become disgusting, and they make me sick. This can happen for months at a time, and tends to happen around midterms and finals. I usually forget to eat because I don't feel hungry, most likely because I am constantly on an adrenaline rush.

By the way, if you have ever been on an adrenaline rush for weeks at a time, you know it is remarkably unpleasant. I might recommend it as a form of torture. Not because of intense pain or anything, but it's exhausting and it will wear you down to nothing.

I have slept around 14 hours per night for about a week after it's over. It's very exhausting.

Apparently, because I don't have any focus on getting thin, it's not a problem. And I'm fat, so how can it possibly be a problem, right? My doctors are kind of idiots.

[SheCriesRed]

Binge eating disorder should've been included ( not to be confused with Bulimia which is binge then purge).
It feels like sufferers of B.E.D. aren't being validated.
This is a HUGE problem with a lot of people that struggle with obesity. We also need help to understand it better.
It's like void that makes us feel an insatiable hunger. To the point that we eat more food in secrecy before or after a big meal, or binge eating junk food or anything available when stressed out upset. There NEEDS to be awareness for B.E.D. too.

[sararogers]

I had a friend in elementary that probably had ARFID. She was really thin and the nurse tried to give her these nutrient shakes that she could hardly eat. She ended up going on a feeding tube and I think afterward she switched schools. I really hope she’s okay because she was a really good friend 😔

[finnethew]

I have a friend who was somewhat recently diagnosed with ARFID, and it finally clicked that there was a reason why they mostly eat their “safe” foods- namely pizza and a few other options. We always joked about it (and still do), but I think knowing there’s a real reason that isn’t being “picky” has helped him.