Anorexia and bulimia can be cured by self-monitoring to reduce loss of control

In psychiatric outpatient clinics, anorexia and bulimia are both eating disorders and can be said to be a common disease of civilization. Studies have found that more than 10% of people in China have symptoms of anorexia or tendencies to binge eating. Doctors say that the above diseases are curable, and current treatments mostly combine medication and psychotherapy to help patients develop the habit of self-monitoring their diet and reduce the occurrence of out-of-control eating. However, the process still needs to further address the many interpersonal interactions or psychological problems faced by patients in order to sustain the effectiveness of the treatment.

In psychiatric outpatient clinics, anorexia and bulimia are both eating disorders, and doctors say they can be cured.

Dr. Guan-yu Chen of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine at the Songde Branch of Taipei City United Hospital said that over the years, more than 700 patients with eating problems have sought help, of which about 1/5 suffered from anorexia, which shows that the severity of the problem in the country cannot be underestimated. Anorexia, in particular, is a very common mental illness among young women in developed countries and is becoming increasingly common in Taiwan.

Dr. Chen Guanyu pointed out that according to clinical experience, for cases of anorexia in adolescents, parents can help them gradually overcome their eating disorders and restore their health without the need for hospitalization. As for adult cases, they can gradually recover through short-term hospitalization, long-term psychological treatment after discharge, and mind-body integration treatment. Anorexia is not an untreatable condition. If it is detected and treated early, the serious harm caused by this disease to the individual can be reduced.

As for bulimia, it is a psychological and psychiatric disorder related to anorexia. The main symptoms are repeated and uncontrollable eating of large amounts of food in a short period of time, as well as so-called compensatory behaviors such as fasting, vomiting, or abuse of laxatives to avoid weight gain. Patients can quickly eat food that an average person would need to eat in 3 or 4 meals in 2 hours, 1 hour, or even less.

Dr. Chen Guanyu emphasized that in addition to the possibility of sharing symptoms of binge eating, patients with anorexia and bulimia have a common psychological characteristic, which is a high sensitivity to weight and body shape, and even the entire self-worth of the person depends on his or her weight or appearance. Because of this, anorexia and bulimia are classified as mental illnesses, and are collectively classified as "eating disorders" along with some eating behavior problems with milder or atypical symptoms.

The causes of eating disorders are very complex. Genetic genes, personality traits, characteristics of family interactions, and socio-cultural factors are all related to the onset and maintenance of eating disorders. The treatment methods vary depending on individual conditions and can be approached from different directions such as drug therapy, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, or even a combination of different methods. The earlier treatment is started and the longer the patient is able to continue treatment, the greater the chance of recovery.