a food disorder unknown by the majority of the Quebec population
Even if bulimic hyperphagia is the most common food disorder, two out of three adults would be unable to recognize the main manifestations, suggests a scientific article that has just appeared in the Journal of Eating Disorders. This ignorance and the prejudices that part of the population has with regard to overweight and obesity contribute to the stigma of people suffering from this mental health disorder, say scientists from Laval University who signed this article.
About 2.8% of people will suffer from bulimic hyperphagia during their lifetime, recalls the first author of the study, Marilou Côté, professor at the Faculty of Education Sciences and researcher attached to the Nutriss – Nutrition, Health Center And society, at the Institute on nutrition and functional foods and at the Center d’Expertise Weight, Image and Food of Laval University.
Bulimic hyperphagia, also called hyperphagic access, manifests itself in intense episodes of overconsumption of foods accompanied by a feeling of loss of control over food intake. In general, these episodes last less than two hours, but they can occur a few times a week. These bulimic access generates shame and guilt. Unlike bulimia, bulimic hyperphagia is not associated with compensatory behavior such as taking laxatives, vomiting or excessive exercise.
Bulimic hyperphagia is frequently associated with physical problems such as overweight (32% of cases), obesity (42% of cases) and type 2 diabetes as well as anxiety and depression problems. “The people who have affected it feel a lot of suffering,” said Marilou Côté, who has seen the misdeeds of this condition as part of his clinical practice as a psychologist specializing in eating disorders.
In order to assess knowledge and prejudices with regard to bulimic hyperphagia in the Quebec population, professor on the side and three colleagues conducted an online survey in which 894 adults took part. At first, these people had to read a short text describing the situation of a young woman presenting the main manifestations of bulimic hyperphagia. They then had to select, from a list of 11 choices, what they considered to be the main problem of this young woman. Result? Only, one in three people correctly concluded that it was a case of bulimic hyperphagia.
Secondly, all participating persons received information on this eating disorder. Subsequently, they answered questions to detect their prejudices in relation to this condition. “The two main factors that explain the stigma with regard to bulimic hyperphagia are aversion to people who have a surplus of weight and the fact of thinking that weight is a simple question of will, therefore Under the control of the individual, summarizes the professor on the side. Many believe that people who suffer from bulimic hyperphagia lack will and self -regulation, that they are responsible for their state and that they should simply eat less. ”
“Several believe that people who suffer from bulimic hyperphagia lack will and self -regulation, that they are responsible for their state and that they should simply eat less. »»
– Marilou side, about prejudices that contribute to the stigma of people suffering from this food disorder
According to the professor on the side, the results of this study indicate that it is urgent to carry out education and awareness campaigns on bulimic hyperphagia. “It is a food disorder that is still little known compared to anorexia or bulimia. These campaigns would encourage people who suffer from it to seek help – there are effective treatments for this food disorder – and they would help undo erroneous beliefs in relation to the weight and food disorders that circulate in the population. “
The other signatories of the study published in the Journal of Eating Disorders are Marie-Pierre Roy, Christopher Rodrigue and Catherine Bégin.
As part of the National Week for Awareness of Eating Disorders, which takes place from February 1 to 7, Professors Marilou Côté and Catherine Bégin will present, on Friday February 7 at 12 noon, an online conference entitled “Stigmas linked to the weight and linked to hyperphagic access: are they so different? ”.
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