Unseen Struggles: The Hidden Aspects of Eating Disorders by Maram Barakat, M.A.

A woman lies on a couch, looking at a single cucumber slice on a white plate near a fork and knife. The mood appears contemplative. Bergen County Moms

Many people assume that eating disorders (EDs) are simply about vanity, diet culture, or a desire to be thin. However, the reality is much deeper and more complex.

Eating disorders are often coping mechanisms for underlying emotional distress, trauma, and neurological patterns that shape a person’s relationship with food and their body.

Here’s how these factors play a role:

1. Control and Coping Mechanism

For many individuals, an eating disorder is not about food itself, but about regaining control in areas of life where they feel powerless.

Anorexia nervosa often emerges in people who feel overwhelmed, pressured, or helpless. Restricting food becomes a way to exert control over their bodies when they feel they have none elsewhere.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) can serve as a form of emotional regulation, using food to numb distress, anxiety, or emotional pain.
Bulimia nervosa combines both restriction and bingeing, where purging is used as a way to erase perceived mistakes and regain control after a loss of restraint.

2. Trauma and Emotional Distress

Many individuals with eating disorders have a history of trauma, whether physical, emotional, or sexual. Studies show a strong correlation between childhood abuse, neglect, and the development of EDs. This happens because:

Food—or the lack of it—becomes a way to self-soothe or punish oneself.
The body may be seen as something to manipulate, disappear, or become invisible.
Trauma survivors sometimes disconnect from their bodies, making it easier to ignore hunger or fullness cues.

3. Neurological and Biological Patterns

Altered Brain Chemistry: Research shows that people with EDs often have imbalances in dopamine and serotonin, which affect mood, impulse control, and reward systems.
Interoception Disruption: Many people with EDs have difficulty recognizing internal bodily signals, such as hunger, fullness, or even emotions. This makes it harder to regulate eating behavior naturally.
Genetics: Some individuals are genetically predisposed to developing an ED, especially if they have a family history of anxiety, OCD, or mood disorders.

4. Societal and Cultural Pressures

While not the sole case, diet culture, fatphobia, and unrealistic beauty standards also reinforce disordered eating behaviors. In many cultures, thinness is often equated with success, worth, and discipline, while weight gain is stigmatized. These societal messages can make recovery difficult, as societal validation often reinforces disordered patterns.

To learn more about the hidden aspects of eating disorders, visit Lukin Center.

Maram Barakat, M.A., is pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She has a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a special focus on global mental health and research methods. She is primarily interested in providing access to quality mental health services in low-to-middle income countries and vulnerable populations. She is especially passionate about working with survivors of abuse and violence. In fact, she has integrated her passion with her academic interests by focusing her master's thesis on culturally adapting and implementing cognitive processing therapy to Syrian refugee women who have experienced sexual violence during and post-displacement. Maram has worked as a mental health professional and advocate in Lebanon, Uganda, and New York for the past six years. At the Lukin Center, Maram will be taking on the role of social media manager. Her main responsibilities entail managing and monitoring the center's social media platforms, creating content, increasing engagement, and more. Apart from her professional interests, she enjoys acting, karaoke, and extreme sports.