The Hidden Health Disparity We Don't Talk About
The Hidden Health Disparity We Don't Talk About
How the "Fit Lifestyle" Drives Women Toward Eating Disorders
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The Wall Street Journal's Julie Jargon published an article called “Young Women With Eating Disorders Are Overdoing It With Energy Drinks.” As someone who struggled very actively with an eating disorder (ED) during my Marine Corps (USMC) career, there is too much that I resonated with while reading the stories of these young women who utilized various energy drinks as meal replacements. What stuck with me while reading this article years later was how this is another example of health disparities in healthcare, and here's why.
In the quest for health and fitness, it’s easy to overlook how societal pressures can lead to harmful behaviors, particularly among women. While seemingly promoting health, the "fit lifestyle" trend often disguises a darker reality: the drive towards disordered eating. This issue is a personal struggle and a significant health disparity that healthcare organizations must address to ensure equitable, inclusive, and informed care.
What’s Wrong With a ‘Fit Lifestyle’? Well, A Lot.
The concept of a "fit lifestyle" is marketed as the epitome of health, but for many women, it becomes a difficult path to EDs. I know because I had a very active (yet hidden) ED throughout the six years I served in the USMC. Because EDs can go unnoticed for a long time, it highlights that more visible health issues often overshadow this hidden health disparity.
It also illustrates the nuanced ways in which societal trends can impact health. The rise of the fit lifestyle is a prime example of how well-intentioned health advice can have unintended negative consequences. However, it also shows how not-so-well-intentioned health advice can exacerbate health disparities. For instance, high doses of caffeine can contribute to heart issues, which is troubling as heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. So, shedding light on this issue is about something other than my vendetta with the fit lifestyle. Instead, the main lesson here is that while seemingly beneficial, a fit lifestyle can often mask unhealthy behaviors and lead to severe health consequences. Healthcare organizations must understand this to offer more nuanced and compelling care.
Here are 3 Ways the "Fit Lifestyle" Drives Women Toward Eating Disorders
1. Societal Pressures and Perfectionism
I’m sure that I don’t have to tell you about the pressure to achieve an ideal body shape, which can lead to extreme behaviors, including excessive exercise and restrictive dieting. I remember when I served in the USMC, the body composition program was highly restrictive to the point that many Marines were engaging in disordered eating behaviors to maintain strict standards. In 2022, Rand Health Quarterly published a study that confirmed the strict standards were driving women Marines and Marines of color to adopt disordered eating behaviors to meet the standards. Not that I needed affirmation, but that study highlighted the many ways in which women and BIPOC populations are bombarded with unrealistic body standards.
2. The Role of Energy Drinks and Supplements
For many reasons, I have mixed feelings about energy drinks and supplements, as they are supposed to “supplement” an already nutritionally rich diet. However, the problem that we are all fully aware of is that many women turn to energy drinks and dietary supplements to maintain their energy levels while restricting their calorie intake. For those engaging in a very active lifestyle, this can become extremely dangerous for their health. Not only can this lead to a destructive cycle of dependency, but it can contribute to malnutrition as they are not getting the vital vitamins and minerals that their bodies need.
3. Mental Health Implications
I don’t want to bypass the fact that when we talk about disordered eating behaviors and EDs, we cannot ignore the impact that this will have on mental health. The pursuit of a “fit lifestyle” can have significant mental health repercussions, including anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). As BDD entails a constant worry about perceived defects in a person’s appearance, it can contribute to further disordered eating behaviors. For instance, I wasn’t just restricting calories but engaging in excessive exercise during my silent struggles with an ED. Because my disordered eating and exercise behavior were keeping me within our body composition standards, it was easily overlooked during my routine health assessments. Therefore, it’s essential to recognize that BDD and EDs often go hand-in-hand.
For the reasons I’ve already stated above, adopting a holistic approach is a nonnegotiable. This includes screening for disordered eating behaviors and offering resources for support and recovery. Whether you have an organization that works directly with ED patients or not, understanding these points is crucial for promoting health equity. By recognizing the hidden dangers of the "fit lifestyle," you can better support your patients and address a significant health disparity.
To ensure your organization is equipped to address these issues, schedule a consultation to discuss your organization's specific goals and develop a tailored training plan to address your organization's unique objectives.
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Talk soon,
Tomesha