Nurses with eating disorders?

[CardiacDork, MSN, RN]

This may be a bit bold. *Deep Breath*

Lately facing demons head on has resulted in some good healing. Are there any nurses on this forum that would be open with sharing that they have an eating disorder? Their experience? How specifically does your eating disorder intertwine with being a nurse? For me caring for larger patients usually results in skipping lunch. Although my care is the same to all patients, I feel a bit anxious of ending up in such state of obesity and tend to eat nothing for the day.

Do do any of you binge eat related to work stress? Stop eating due to body image?

Not looking for medical advise just wanting to reach out and see others experiences.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I worked alongside a nurse who exhibited classic signs (long johns in all weather, walking 2 miles to and from work, always taking stairs, never joining in with communal snacks, never taking an actual meal break, etc) but literally, NO ONE noticed - until she was found in full arrest at the bottom of the stairwell & the outcome was negative. In retrospect, we all felt absolutely horrible. We apparently have blinders on when it comes to our coworkers.

My point? It is very easy for a working nurse to hide an eating disorder - probably because of our fairly random & chaotic meal schedules. S/he would just appear to be another very busy (no time to eat) nurse. I can also see how caring for obese patients may be a serious trigger for nurses who are recovering from eating disorders. So - KUDOS to OP for surfacing this very important issue. I'm definitely going to be following it.

[Emergent, RN]

There is a gal I work with who is thin as a rail, and only eats salads. I've wondered about her. I mentioned once that she is very slender, she said, oh no, it's all in my butt. That statement made me wonder more, whatever's in her butt certainly isn't much!

[CardiacDork, MSN, RN]

I worked alongside a nurse who exhibited classic signs (long johns in all weather, walking 2 miles to and from work, always taking stairs, never joining in with communal snacks, never taking an actual meal break, etc) but literally, NO ONE noticed - until she was found in full arrest at the bottom of the stairwell & the outcome was negative. In retrospect, we all felt absolutely horrible. We apparently have blinders on when it comes to our coworkers.

My point? It is very easy for a working nurse to hide an eating disorder - probably because of our fairly random & chaotic meal schedules. S/he would just appear to be another very busy (no time to eat) nurse. I can also see how caring for obese patients may be a serious trigger for nurses who are recovering from eating disorders. So - KUDOS to OP for surfacing this very important issue. I'm definitely going to be following it.

What a great point you've made. You are so correct that unusual and sporadic mealtime of a nurse may contribute to masquerading eating disorders.

I know personally I lose my appetite after caring for obese patients, not in a form of disgust but rather in fear of I too becoming like them.

Food is such a integral part of life. It such a good thing and depending on your culture it is an incredibly important part of socializing. Being Hispanic, mealtime is social time. We eat and then we talk for hours at the table. So food, emotions, and socializing are so connected for me.

Unfortunately food is also a source of grief. On my days off especially I will fast and unfortunately after this fasting I will binge eat and then after that I will exercise like crazy and feel very guilty.

Eating disorders are a real thing and I've noticed an increase in ED as we move into this new "eating healthy" era which by no means is a bad thing but constant bombardment from the media to be thin to be a certain way affects people ... Both MALES and FEMALES.

[nutella, MSN, RN]

I worked with nurses who had/have eating disorders. One of them brought it up casually when stress was high. The other one had to look for a different position as the high stress triggered the ED. I think it is definitely a spectrum but when a person is in remission it seems that too much stress can trigger the ED.

Of course it does not help that our society is somewhat obsessed with food in a variety of ways from "dieting" to "healthy foods" to food as a hobby and so on...

[llg, PhD, RN]

My reaction to stress is to eat. While I have never been officially diagnosed with an eating disorder, I know that I am not always in control of my eating -- and eat way too much food when I am not even hungry. I realize it while I am doing it, but can't always stop myself.

Good luck to everyone here who is struggling with an unhealthy relationship with food.

[NOADLS]

Eating disorders are a real thing and I've noticed an increase in ED as we move into this new "eating healthy" era which by no means is a bad thing but constant bombardment from the media to be thin to be a certain way affects people ... Both MALES and FEMALES.

My understanding through having read many peer reviewed papers is that you must be a young, white and middle class female in order to worship the deities Ana and Mia.

This seems conflicting.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Keep in mind that the prevalence of binge eating disorder outnumbers both anorexia nervosa and bulimia by several factors. However, bulimics and anorexics tend to receive more attention and empathy than their 'thicker' counterparts.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

My disorder would be called "exercise bulimia". I am much healthier now, but I have had tendencies to over eat and then run 4-5 miles straight after to burn off whatever I ate.

While exercise is healthy, exercising to extremes is not.

[CardiacDork, MSN, RN]

Not all binge eaters are thick either. There may be patterns but we're all different. I tend to exercise excessively after binging. Exercise or starving myself. I'm doing better but it is a struggle.

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

My understanding through having read many peer reviewed papers is that you must be a young, white and middle class female in order to worship the deities Ana and Mia.

This seems conflicting.

Nah, I have definitely been hospitalized with more upper class than middle class anorexics and bulimics.

To the OP: I work in a clinic now and find the constant diet talk to be kind of triggering. I went from a BMI of 23 to a BMI of 20 in a...mostly healthy way and am starting to get ridiculous comments on my body that would have been more appropriate had my coworkers seen me when I was actually severely anorexic. It's unnerving.

[Junebug903, LPN]

I am technically obese, but look overweight. I am a binge eater, nocturnal eater, and sleep after I eat a lot. That is how I keep my weight on. Plus, with weight and poor nutrition I don't have the energy to make sure I prepare my food for work.