TOnorexia, bulimia, binge eating. Words that we often associate with the most fragile adolescence, but which today concern a growing number of ever younger boys and girls. In Italy beyond 3 million people suffer from nutrition and eating disorderswith a clear female predominance: approximately 80–90% of cases occur in women. On the occasion of National Day dedicated to Eating Disorders (D-NA) – Lilac bowtheIRCCS San Raffaele Hospital – Turro in Milan opens its doors to citizens with open days, free talks and workshops dedicated to the relationship with food. The aim is to raise awareness, inform and encourage the early diagnosis of disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating disorder.
“Nutrition disorders are not simple eating problems, but complex conditions that require early multidisciplinary management,” he explains there Dr. Maria Cristina Cavallini, psychiatrist and head of the Disease Unit for Eating Disorders at the IRCCS San Raffaele Turro Hospital.
Eating disorders: early signs to recognise
One of the main problems is that early warning signs often go unnoticed. Parents and teachers may find themselves faced with seemingly normal behaviors that actually deserve attention.
What are the early signs to recognize?
«It is not always easy for those who live with a person who develops a nutrition disorder to intercept signs that can unequivocally lead to the development of a nutrition and eating disorder: however, some of the following behaviors could be warning signs in a young person: progressive selectivity in the choice of foods, rather than disgust for foods that until then had been eaten without problems, difficulty eating meals in the company of family or peers, untilisolation upon hiringrather than skip meals (see at school)slowing or stopping of growth in very young subjects, physical hyperactivity to contain weight gain.”
It’s not just a problem with food
Even today many people think that anorexia and bulimia are simply linked to the relationship with food. In reality, specialists explain, eating behavior is often just the tip of the iceberg. «Alterations in eating behavior represent the most immediately evident symptom of these disorders and which often represents the priority intervention for the specialists involved in their treatment. In reality, behind this symptomatology we have complex clinical pictures characterized by a distortion of the body image rather than a profound dissatisfaction with one’s physical appearance in subjects who may present rigid and intransigent personalities towards themselves rather than an unstable and chaotic emotionality. Finally, environmental factors, such as trauma even at a young age, could anticipate the onset of these disorders.”
The role of social media
In recent years theage of onset of eating disorders has decreased. Among the factors that can contribute to the vulnerability of adolescents there is also the relationship with social media. «Social media are communications tools with very high potential, however their inappropriate use by vulnerable individuals who struggle to filter the information conveyed by social media can often amplify this fragility. Critical and judgmental attitudes towards the body or image up to specific indications and advice (for example incitements to control weight) can be dangerous stimuli. Currently one of the interventions we envisage in the care of patients with nutrition and eating disorders involves discussion with patients on the correct and effective use of these channels”.
Because a multidisciplinary approach is needed
Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating are not diseases that can be addressed with just one type of intervention. For this reason i specialized centers work with teams made up of multiple professionals. «The model of treatment for nutrition disorders, shared internationally, requires that different figures, each specialized in one of the specific areas that can be affected by the disorder itself, work in synergy. Teamwork allows you to enhance the continuity, coherence and effectiveness of the process diagnostic and the.. It also allows you to offer and coordinate different types of patient care. Finally, this approach avoids being redundant on certain aspects and perhaps insufficient on others, and finally avoids reinforcing contrasts and conflicts between the figures active in the treatment and favoring the maintenance of the state of illness.”
Culinary Medicine: learning to relate to food
Among the initiatives organized by San Raffaele Turro on the occasion of the National Day dedicated to Eating Disorders (D-NA) – Lilac Bow there are also laboratories Culinary Medicinean innovative approach that combines cooking, nutrition and medicine. As the doctor explains Maria Cristina Cavallini, «Patients with nutritional disorders often acquire information about food and its preparation through the multiple channels available in the current world, but having this information often does not correspond to a correct knowledge of what nutrition represents and its importance for the subject with D-NA.
Culinary medicine is a new approach to evidence-based medicine that focuses on the use of food as a tool to improve health. It combines the pleasure and creativity of cooking with rigorous medical and nutritional knowledge, offering patients the tools to make informed and healthy choices regarding their diet. This approach emphasizes the importance of balanced, balanced, nutrient-rich meals, both in the prevention and management of disease, as well as promoting overall well-being. Our team includes nutritionists with specific expertise in this area and whose role consists in providing both patients and their families with practical seminars with effective tools for the home management of nutrition that the patient must regain possession of for adequate care.”
Who to contact if you suspect an eating disorder
When suspicious signs emerge, the most important thing is not to waste time and turn to qualified professionals. «Family members and people who think they are suffering from a Nutrition and Eating Disorder (D-NA) are not alone, access to treatment can be progressive starting from the initial contact with the GP or pediatrician of free choice who can refer the patient to a more specialized level if necessary and after having assessed his physical conditions (for example by carrying out blood tests, electrocardiogram). However, it is important to direct people with alterations in eating behavior to teams that have adequate expertise and experience in treating these problems”, suggests the expert.
The initiatives of San Raffaele Turro for the Fiocchetto Lilla
To raise awareness among the population and encourage early diagnosis, the center organizes a series of free initiatives open to the community:
ORpen Day “Lilac Bow”
March 16, 9.00–11.00
Guided tour, exhibition of works created by patients and meeting with the centre’s professionals.
Free psycho-nutritional interviews
March 18, 19 and 20
Individual support sessions with specialists from the centre.
Culinary Medicine laboratories
March 26
Theoretical meetings and practical demonstrations to learn how to build a healthier and more conscious relationship with food. For info and reservations: https://www.hsr.it/strutture/san-raffaele-turro.
An important opportunity to inform yourself, ask for help and remember that eating disorders are not a weakness, but diseases that can be cured if caught in time.