"They are subtle pathologies of which people have absolutely no awareness". Thus Antonella Amadori, contact person for eating and nutrition disorders of the Mental Health Department of the ASL of Sassari, reflects on the growing phenomenon of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.
He did it on yesterday's Fiocchetto Lilla day, dedicated by the government to eating disorders.
"It is a disease that manifests itself more and more precociously, even in children aged 10 to 12, but the most affected group is the adolescent one". Where, however, there is no shortage of more mature presences who may have lived with the disorder for more than twenty years.
About 100 patients are treated in the city, together with their families, by the facility, which has been open since 2021, in line with national averages which draw a balance of eight people out of one hundred thousand for anorexia and nine for bulimia.
"But this is only the tip of the iceberg, so it's important to raise awareness on the subject." Pathologies that mainly affect girls, even if in recent times the male component is also increasing by 10%.
But what causes the disturbance? "The causes - explains the doctor - can be different, social, cultural, family and even genetic". In this sense, it is essential to relate to the team with heterogeneous skills, made up of psychologists, neuropsychiatrists, biologists, nutritionists from the ASL. "It takes time to make it - concludes Amadori - but I can assure you that anorexia, bulimia and binge eating can be completely cured".
