Unhealthy Eating Habits (Disordered Eating)

*My intent for this project is to help others by letting them understand how unhealthy eating habits have very many bad effects on our bodies and what they look like so that they can seek help as soon as possible, before they become eating disorders. Please do skip ahead if such topics distress you, however, or if you're easily triggered by topics such as eating disorders. Though my intent is to cause awareness for such topics, please skip to the next read if this topic makes you feel uncomfortable. Thanks for your understanding and please be well.

What Are Unhealthy Eating Habits?

Poor eating habits include under and overeating. Both are very unhealthy, and in the long term, these habits will become eating disorders due to the repetitive actions.

How Do Poor Eating Habits Become Eating Disorders?

There are three types of eating disorders, one being anorexia nervosa, which can be caused by extreme dieting such as skipping meals and avoiding certain foods. Binging can lead to another disorder called bulimia nervosa, which is when a person binges and purges in order to enjoy the food they eat without gaining the weight.The last disorder is caused by extreme binging and it is called binge eating disorder.

What Are the Symptoms of Unhealthy Eating Habits?

One symptom is heartburn, which can occur when you consume too many greasy, fried, and spicy foods. It can additionally occur is if you’ve had too many carbonated drinks. Another effect excessive fatty and greasy foods can have on your body is stomach pain and a bloated belly.

Water retention can happen when you consume too many pre packaged foods, Most highly processed foods contain a lot of sodium, and that is one reason to avoid them. Highly processed foods have also been linked to certain types of cancers, that is why you should eat everything in moderation.

Skipping meals is another unhealthy eating habit. One in five children eligible, comes to school every day without breakfast. That’s like saying no to air.

Eating fad diets is also considered an unhealthy eating habit. You never know what kinds of fad diets there are out there. They could be potentially fatal.

What Causes Unhealthy Eating Habits?

Many people feel they need to have a perfect body to be accepted or popular among their peers. Some people may change their eating habits to become thinner or more muscular. For example, some may skip meals, eat only certain foods, or eat a lot at one time. They may also use pills or laxatives and follow fad diets.

What Are the Effects of Unhealthy Eating Habits?

Unhealthy eating habits can affect a teen’s growth, development, and ability to learn. If not treated they can become eating disorders and have an awful impact on your organs, and even kill you.

What Are Fad Diets and Why Are They Dangerous?

The most common unhealthy eating behavior is indulging in a fad diet. Fad diets are eating plans that promise quick weight loss with little effort. Most fad diets require you to buy special products such as pills or shakes. Fad diets often require you to avoid many foods that are good sources of essential nutrients.

Fad diets can be dangerous and you should never turn to them because they can be virtually anything. If someone creates a fad diet that involves only eating cucumbers in a day, you shouldn’t do it because it is very unhealthy. You will lack nearly all the essential nutrients you need in your growing body, and you will not have nearly enough calories for a day. You put yourself at risk with each fad diet you choose to try. You just shouldn’t try them! There's no good reason to! You’re still developing, and yeah, you’re going to gain weight, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

How to Break Poor Eating Habits

Make sure to start each day with a nutritious breakfast and eat the table without distractions to avoid overeating. Eat with your family and stop eating when you’re comfortably full, not once you’re so full you feel sick. Don’t skip meals and choose your food wisely. Try avoiding foods high in sodium, saturated fat, added sugar, and with low nutritional value. Skip the highly processed foods and fad diets!