Eating Disorders: Signs, Symptoms, and How to Find Help (Part 1)

"You can have an eating disorder and not be in an underweight body." 

This powerful insight from Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, Regional Medical Director at the Eating Recovery Center, challenges everything we think we know about food, weight, and mental health. In this eye-opening episode of RECOVERable, host Terry Maguire sits down with Dr. Wassenaar to dismantle the dangerous myths surrounding eating disorders.

Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/

Dr. Wassenaar, a triple board-certified psychiatrist, explains that eating disorders are real, brain-based biological illnesses—not matters of willpower, vanity, or "just a diet gone wrong". We dive deep into why these conditions are curable, the difference between "disordered eating" and clinical diagnoses, and the alarming rise of anorexia and bulimia in younger children.

We also address the "pathological aloneness" that often accompanies mental illness and why community and connection are the strongest antidotes to the isolation of an eating disorder. Whether you are struggling yourself, worried about a friend, or curious about the signs of eating disorders in men and boys, this conversation provides a compassionate roadmap for understanding and seeking help.

Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 00:32 – What is the one thing society should understand? 02:06 – Why are eating disorders considered a mental illness? 06:34 – Is there a typical age when they start? 08:37 – Why are eating disorders starting at younger ages? 12:22 – How should we communicate with each other about bodies? 14:53 – What does disordered eating actually mean? 19:54 – When does it become a medical or mental health crisis? 23:45 – How does tracking calories and macros play a role? 37:34 – What are the signs a friend might have an eating disorder? 50:17 – Do guys get eating disorders, too?

Questions the Video Answers:

1. What is the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating?
2. Can you have an eating disorder if you aren't skinny?
3. Are eating disorders a choice or a mental illness?
4. What are the early warning signs of an eating disorder in a friend?
5. Why are eating disorders becoming more common in children?
6. How does social media impact body image and eating habits?
7. Is it possible to fully recover and be "cured" from an eating disorder?
8. What should I do if I feel suicidal due to an eating disorder?
9. Do men and boys struggle with eating disorders?
10. How can I talk to someone about their weight without being hurtful?
11. Why do people use eating disorders as a way to regain control?
12. What is the most fatal mental illness?
13. How does "diet culture" reinforce disordered behaviors?
14. What are the free resources available for eating disorder support?
15. Why is connection and relationship important for recovery?

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