Anorexia and bulimia during summer vacation

Those affected and their families face one of the potentially most difficult periods

Jordi Mitjà Costa

Nurse at the Integrated Functional Eating Disorders Unit. Mental Health Department

Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona

Dr. Eduard Serrano Troncoso

PhD in Psychology. Head of the Integrated Functional Unit for Eating Disorders. Mental Health Department

Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona

We are now in the midst of summer and vacation season, a time of year that can be difficult and challenging for people with eating disorders. For an extended period, our usual daily routines and activities are disrupted.

Furthermore, we are beginning to be inundated with messages about the "need" to be prepared to show off a perfect body in summer and the so-called "bikini operation", which represents the beginning for many people of a diet to lose weight or an increase in compensatory physical exercise.

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It is also a time when exposure to body image is more pronounced. This is when emotions such as anxiety or sadness can arise in people suffering from anorexia or bulimia, further increasing their preoccupation with body image.

Likewise, for families with members recovering from anorexia or bulimia, summer and vacations are also a challenging time. For many families, the summer season can feel like a setback in treatment because some symptoms may worsen. Avoidance behaviors may appear in social situations (eating in restaurants, spending vacations with friends, going to the beach or the pool) that might go more unnoticed at other times of the year.

For this reason, we want to share a series of tips for people affected by anorexia or bulimia, and also for their families, in relation to this period.

Summer tips for people affected by anorexia or bulimia:

Summer and holidays are for enjoying yourself and disconnecting, but you should continue to take care of your mental and nutritional health. This means following the guidelines of your healthcare professionals even during this time of year.
Maintain the structure and timing of meals.
Maintain social activity ; it will help you avoid isolation.
Create a schedule with a routine . Increased free time and a lack of organization can lead to increased thoughts about body image and unhealthy behaviors such as skipping meals.
Remember that images of perfect bodies on social media may be retouched. Be critical and try not to compare yourself .
If you're afraid of wearing a swimsuit to the pool or beach, gradual exposure is recommended. For example, on the first day you could go to the beach in a t-shirt. It's best to start this exposure with people you trust. This will help you confront your fear gradually, and if you maintain the exposure, your anxiety will eventually decrease.
Make a list of things you'd like to do this summer that have nothing to do with dieting or trying to change your body. Finding things to do and maintaining active social connections helps you disconnect and improve your well-being.

Summer tips for family members of people affected by anorexia and bulimia:

During the summer and holidays, it is very important to follow the guidelines provided by specialized professionals.
Try to maintain regular meal times and a routine.
Planning ahead helps maintain structure.
If you are going on vacation for a few days, you can make a travel plan with meals similar to your usual routine.
Research the type of food in the places you are going to visit.
It is recommended not to eat all meals in restaurants, as this involves an unfamiliar environment and may increase the anxiety of the affected person. Choosing accommodation with its own kitchen can help the affected person maintain eating habits and schedules similar to those of their non-holiday period.
If eating buffet-style, depending on the state of the illness, it is recommended to select the food in a single trip to reduce a possible feeling of anxiety from seeing a lot of food.
Program activities unrelated to food.
If the affected person is a minor and has planned a summer camp or exchange program, it is important that the people responsible for the activity know, through the family (and with the consent of the affected person), about the eating disorder in order to offer support and supervision.
If during this period you notice a restriction of food intake or other unhealthy behaviors, consult your healthcare professional.
Show understanding and empathy for the person affected. Adjust vacation expectations to the person's clinical condition.
Avoid comments or attitudes that might make the affected person feel guilty for not being able to enjoy the family vacation as much as before. Eating disorders are not a choice.