Buhay Alamang: Eating Disorders

By: Danny S. Villanueva

You know, there could be lots of eating habits that could be considered strange and mysterious at times. This could vary from one culture to another or say, from one dining room to another. Some people would find these habits acceptable and not as "disorders" at all.

I know some friends who are extremely "choosy" eaters consuming only a few variety of foods. Can we classify Kuya Noli and Fr. Dodje as examples of this choosy kind? Kasi palagi na lang yung walang kamatayang "ginisang corned beef " ang talagang favoritong almusal, tanghalian at hapunan niya. Tatay when he was alive would always be happy partaking "tuyo" everytime with 'gatas ng kalabaw" on the side. Mark when he was a toddler, he would only go for hotdogs and catsup. When we were kids, si Ditseng Pearl naman would always go for the "buntot ng bangus" all the time or because yun nalang ang natitira palagi sa kanya; not a chance to choose? Baka nga. So Ditse is not really choosy but 'no choice' pala. Hahahaha.

And I got friends who are on the other hand "ritualistic" about their food, eating certain foods only at certain combination. Sabrie is probably one of this type of eater who matches "ginisang munggo" always with "paksiw na bangus" and "adobong baboy." Natutuhan niya iyan kay Nanay, kasi yun ang gusto ko (ako pala yung may disorder). No, Jun M, our habit of saying grace before and after meal is not classified part of this type. But in case of pork viand that has so much fat and cholesterol, I would bless this food for it to become pink salmon that is safe for me to eat; then this you may call ritualistic, too. Hehehehe.

But serious eating disorders are grouped into 3 or 4 categories, sabi ga. Check it our where you belong.

1. Anoxeria Nervosa- lack of appetite. It is characterized by a person who refuses to maintain a minimally normal body weight. Instead, she maintains at a level lower than the low end of her normal weight range for her height. About 95% daw of the people who have this disorder are females and of the middle and upper socio-economic classes. Jun M, meron bang mga Masbads and Gomezes falling on this category? Ninenervios ma-overweight. Dz is not part of this class; walang nervios ito sa pagkain ng saluyot at beef steak ni Tonino.

2. Bulimia Nervosa- fond of bingeing and purging. The bingeing is done repeatedly, at least 2x a week. The person eats with gusto, out of control and unable to stop eating huge quantities. Once the binge is over, the victim is horrified kunwari what she/he has done then panic and guilt sets in. To get rid of the excessive calories, the bulimic (katakawan) will induce vomiting (taking large amount of laxatives or diuretics, susundutin ng daliri ang lalamunan para masuka, or go on a rigid diet afterwards). Sira ulo talaga.

3. Binge eating disorder (BED)- (not hearing disorder, hehehe) rapid consumption of large amounts of food without purging. Mukhang mga Noy-pis ang papasok dito. Others (the obese and gourmands, sino pa?) do not consider this as eating disorder. This is more common than the other 2 classes. Sometimes we called this as compulsive overeaters or food addicts and closely characterize the bulmics.

4. Bulmica sa Kanto - This is no regular bulmic but more of an economic disorder very prevalent in RP- "bumili ka na lang ng ulam sa carinderia sa kanto, anak." The victim is characterized as thin and malnourished as a result of skipping meals. Once the person has earned some money, he would take no time to go to the nearest corner sari-sari store to buy foods. No laughing matter, it is happening. Kawawa naman po sila. Tulungan natin sila.

Nawala yata yung gutom ko. Na binge yata na ako, hindi ko na marinig yung kalam ng tiyan ko (not binge eating, but hearing disorder this time). That's the problem when you talk of foods, you either lose appetite or get more ungry (pronounced as kapampangan). Ayoko ng kumain ng nga (…..ng kakaunti…) Hahaha. #DSV