Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "Eating disorder has an addictive effect on the brain"

Stating that changes occur in the brain's reward and punishment system in eating disorder, which is among the behavioral addictions, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "Eating behavior has the same effect as in addictions. The person sees eating as a life goal and constantly tries to satisfy pleasure." Tarhan said that neglect, abuse and attachment disorders in childhood are in the background of eating disorders.

In the background of the eating disorder is childhood!

President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan made an important assessment about emotional hunger and eating disorders.

They eat to satisfy their emotional needs...

Noting that in emotional hunger, which is a type of eating disorder, the person binge eats even though one is not physically hungry, and the body does not need it, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that the reasons why the person eats should be determined here. Emphasizing that treatment will not be possible without determining the cause, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that "The person eats here because they want to meet their emotional needs. Eating disorders are seriously a consequence and a nightmare of modernity right now." Noting that obesity is at an epidemic level in the world and that our country ranks third after the USA and Saudi Arabia in this regard, Tarhan said that "Obesity, which is a condition that occurs throughout life, is related to eating habits. People with eating disorders begin to see eating as a life purpose."

The feeling of pleasure is tried to be satisfied with eating behavior

Stating that the cell membrane in the brain is impaired in people with eating disorders, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "These people have put eating at the center of their lives. Food is eaten to provide emotional satisfaction. Eating disorder is included as a behavioral addiction in the system where psychiatric disorders are classified. Here, eating behavior has the same effect as addiction changes the reward-punishment system. The person sees eating without using any substance as a life goal and constantly tries to satisfy pleasure."

The area of the brain that perceives satiety is impaired...

Noting that bulimia nervosa, which is an eating disorder that can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening risks, has a fear of getting fat, Tarhan stated that "Even though the person weighs 29 kilos, they say, 'I am 150 kilos'. You cannot convince them that it is not true. The area of the brain that perceives satiety is impaired. In these people, the function of this region, which allows the brain to understand the hypothalamus, that is, hunger and satiety, and that area signaling that 'You are full, this is enough', is impaired. The person eats, binges, and vomits in the neurosis type. Obesity turns into fear. Fear becomes an irrational fear. These people are hospitalized like psychosis, a kind of mental illness. If it is intervened in time, it will improve."

There is an attachment disorder and childhood traumas in the background

Noting that Blumia nervosa is usually seen in young girls, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that when the background of this disease is investigated, it is usually depression and attachment disorder. Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that "If the child grew up in an environment where the subject of eating with the mother was talked about and glorified a lot during childhood, the child makes eating a form of communication. If I eat, I am healthy or I am happy. If I do not eat, I cannot be happy'. These types of eating disorders are starting to follow one’s life. Even though one feels full, the person eats again. Then they feel some remorse. Then they try to throw out. Their life revolves around it. When investigated, childhood traumas emerge. The child is unable to compensate for these childhood traumas. A pathological behavior emerges."

One needs to relearn how to eat!

Stating that the priorities in a person's life suddenly change if eating is chosen as a life purpose, just like in addictive behavior, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "The biggest mistake these people make is there. For the treatment of this behavior, scientific awareness process, processes related to the conscious awareness process, tests and treatments are tried to be carried out. In most of the cases of eating disorders, the person needs to be hospitalized for two to three months and various treatments are applied. It is necessary to take the brain electrode of the person and correct the brain chemistry. The person needs to relearn to eat. Here, the family also has duties, and work is being done for them."

It can lead to emotional, neglect, emotional abuse, and misbehavior

Noting that childhood traumas such as emotional neglect and emotional abuse are mostly the basis of eating disorders, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan made the following remarks:

"As long as the family, mother, father and relatives do not correct the pathology, the person sometimes eats reactively, that is, just for revenge. Sometimes misbehavior can also lead to an eating disorder. For example, the child’s mother holding the plate in her hand is chasing her child. Here we are looking at the person who grew up like this in their childhood. The mother forcibly walked behind her child with a plate in her hand so that her child could be fed, and the mother has good intentions. However, the child has made not eating a form of communication. Unfortunately, it is very common in our culture. There is an abuse of compassion here. Especially when we look at developed societies, we do not see such behavior. The child does not have difficulty eating. The mother gives the food, if her child eats, the child eats, if he does not eat, he is hungry. A person who is in good physical health will not get sick if he does not eat when there is food in front of him. In our country, the mother is afraid that her child will get sick. However, if he wants to eat in good physical health, he eats. The mother tries all kinds of ways to get the child to eat. The TV turns on. He is trying to distract other relatives. And the kid likes it, and the kid keeps stretching it out."

To be able to control the urge to eat is to control psychological resources

Stating that while eating disorders are more common in women, men tend to use substances, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "Although women are more prone to eating, their aesthetic perceptions are more important to them in the brain, and they attach more importance to their physical appearance. We make them stronger in terms of eating disorders. To be able to control the urge to eat is actually to control one's own life, to control psychological resources."

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)