Eating disorders: The challenges of seeking... — VeyraNews (2026)
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Eating disorders: The challenges of seeking help, and how to offer support
Trigger warning: This article discusses eating disorders and struggles with food.
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Eating disorders: The challenges of seeking help, and how to offer support
Trigger warning: This article discusses eating disorders and struggles with food.
Earlier in August, the internet was abuzz with debates about eating disorders following the announcement that Ariana Grande would step back from the spotlight amid growing public concern about her health.
Eating disorders are among the most common chronic conditions affecting people of different ages.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, they are “serious illnesses marked by severe disturbances in a person’s eating behaviors.”
In an interview with GMA News Online, Dr. Aly Dar Juan, a psychologist and psychometrician specializing in the treatment and management of eating disorders, said discussions about body image topics should be approached with “compassion and respect” instead of scrutiny.
“Constant public scrutiny of a person's body, weight, or appearance can unintentionally reinforce harmful comparison and body surveillance, particularly for vulnerable individuals already struggling with body image or disordered eating,” she said.
Dar Juan said public figures’ and even ordinary people’s bodies “should not become public debates or objects of speculation.”
“Regardless of the reasons behind any physical changes, public figures are human beings who deserve privacy, dignity, and space to heal,” she said.
Among the challenges faced by people dealing with eating disorders is seeking help, whether in terms of timing or how to start addressing the condition.
“What appears as ‘denial’ is often much more complex,” Dar Juan said, explaining that for people suffering from eating disorders, the condition may offer “a sense of control during periods of uncertainty.”
She added the illness may become a “coping mechanism” for overwhelming emotions or “provide structure when life feels chaotic.”
“Over time, separating oneself from the disorder becomes increasingly difficult because it no longer feels like ‘something I have’ but rather 'who I am’,” Dar Juan said.
“This is why recovery requires compassion rather than confrontation,” she added. “Simply telling someone to ‘just eat’ is rarely effective because the illness involves much more than food.”
There are five types of Eating Disorders: Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder (BED), Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and Pica.
Dr. Stella Chia-Tan of Makati Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry points out that for people with anorexia, seeking help becomes challenging because they are “under the delusion that losing weight provides internal validation.”
“If left untreated, this could lead to prolonged illness, suffering for both the patient and carers, a long-term course of illness, and high healthcare costs,” Chia-Tan said.
How to offer your support
If you know someone who is suffering from an eating disorder, Dar Juan said showing compassion “is one of the most powerful forms of support you can offer.”
“Avoid judgment, criticism, or forcing someone to change,” she said. “Educate yourself about eating disorders, encourage professional support, and remain patient.”
Dar Juan also stressed the importance of developing empathy for those who are suffering from eating disorders.
“Imagine your greatest fear, then imagine that same level of fear every time you sit down to eat,” she cited as an example.
“Unlike many fears that can be avoided, food is something we all need multiple times every day,” she added. “That is the reality many people with eating disorders face.”
Ultimately, Dar Juan reminded that everyone deserves to eat, as food is not just fuel, but also connection, culture, celebration, comfort, and community.
“Everyone deserves to experience those things without overwhelming guilt or fear,” she said.
“True health is not defined by having the ‘perfect’ diet,” she added. “It includes having the freedom to enjoy a wide variety of foods while caring for both your physical and mental well-being.”
If you need help or someone to talk to, you may contact the Philippines' National Center for Mental Health crisis hotline by calling 0917-899-8726 (Globe/TM), 0908-639-2672 (Smart/SUN/TNT), or 1553 (nationwide toll-free number).
For more health and wellness tips and educational reads, subscribe to GMA News Online's weekly newsletter, The Boost. — LA GMA News
