Although the word “eating” is in the name, eating disorders are about more than food. They are mental health issues that often need medical treatment.
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, they discuss these conditions well. An estimated 20 million women and 10 million men have eating disorders in the US alone.
This article describes some of the most common types of eating disorders and their symptoms.
What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are a variety of psychological problems. It causes extremely unhealthy eating habits to develop. They might begin with an obsession with food, body weight, or body shape.
In severe cases, eating disorders can have serious health problems and lead to death if left untreated.
People with eating disorders can have many symptoms. However, most have severe food restrictions, food binges, or purging habits such as vomiting or over-exercise.
Eating disorders can affect individuals of any gender at any stage of life. But they are most widely adolescents and young women. Up to 13 percent of young people may develop at least one eating disorder at the age of 20.
Mental health problems marked by an association with food are eating disorders. They can affect anybody, but they are the most prevalent among young people.
1. Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a dietary disorder that is appears also by weight loss. And the difficulty in managing proper body weight for height, age, and stature; and, in many people, distorted body image. People with anorexia usually limit the number of calories and the type of food they consume. Some people with the disorder even exercise compulsively, purge by vomiting and laxatives, and binge eating.
Common Signs and Symptoms:
- A dramatic loss of weight
- Dresses in layers to cover weight loss to stay warm
- Weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dietary considerations. It makes frequent comments about the feeling of “fat.”
- Resists or is unable to sustain a bodyweight appropriate to their age, height, and build-up;
- Maintains an excessive, rigid fitness routine – despite weather, exhaustion, sickness, or injury;
2. Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a severe, life-threatening eating disorder. It is characterized by a cycle of binge and compensated habits, like self-induced vomiting.
Common Signs and Symptoms:
- Evidence of binge eating. These include the disappearance of huge quantities of food in a short period or lots of empty wrappers and cans. Indicating the intake of large amounts of food.
- Evidence of purging behaviors. These include frequent trips to the toilet after meals, symptoms, and smells of vomiting.
- Drinks excessive quantities of water or non-caloric drinks. Also, excessive amounts of mouthwash, mint, and gum.
- Has calluses mostly on the back of the hands and knuckles of self-induced vomiting.
- Dental disorders, such as enamel loss, cavities, vomiting teeth discoloration, and tooth sensitivity;
3. Binge Eating Disorder (Bed)
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious, life-threatening, and treatable eating disorder. It is marked by recurrent episodes of eating significant quantities of food. It is often very fast and to the point of discomfort. A feeling of loss of control during a binge. A feeling of embarrassment, anxiety, or guilt afterward. And a lack of regular use of extremely unhealthy compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to combat binge eating. The most common eating disorder in the U.S. BED is one of the newest officially recognized eating disorders in the DSM-5.
Common Signs and Symptoms:
- Secret recurring episodes of binge eating. Eating a much greater food volume than other people can consume in similar circumstances. It feels lack of control over the ability to stop eating.
- Feeling of disgust, depression, or guilt after overeating, and feeling of poor self-esteem.
- Steals or stores food in strange places.
- Creates lifestyle routines or rituals to make way for binge sessions.
4. Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED)
Other Specified Food and Eating Disorders (OSFED) was commonly recognized as Non-Specified Eating Disorder (EDNOS). After being considered a ‘catch-all’ classification, insurance coverage has often been denied treatment as considered less severe, Life-threatening, and treatable eating disorders. The group was created to include those individuals who did not meet strict diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa but still had significant eating disorders. In community hospitals, the majority of people have historically been diagnosed with EDNOS.
Common Signs and Symptoms:
OSFED covers a wide range of eating-disordered habits. Some or all of the following signs may be present in individuals with OSFED.
- Frequent episodes of eating a very large quantity of food. It is followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting.
- Evidence of binge eating. These include the disappearance of huge quantities of food in a short period. It is indicating the consumption of large amounts of food.
- Self-esteem that is overly linked to body image
- Dietary behavior (reducing the amount or types of foods consumed)
- Expresses the need to “burn off” the calories taken
- Evidence of purging habits. These include frequent trips to the toilet after meals, and smells of vomiting.
5. Avoidant Restricted Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Avoidant Restricted Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a recent diagnosis in the DSM-5. It was previously referred to as a “Selective Eating Disorder.” ARFID is similar to anorexia in that both conditions require limitations in the amount and types of food eaten. Unlike anorexia, ARFID does not involve any body shape or size distress, or fear of weight.
Many children experience picky or selective eating phases. But ARFID patients does not consume enough calories to grow and develop properly. This results installed weight gain and vertical growth in children. This leads to weight loss in adults. ARFID can also lead to difficulties at school or at work due to eating with others and extended times needed to eat.
Common Signs and Symptoms:
- Dramatic loss of weight
- A limited range of favorite foods that will be narrower over time (i.e., picky eating that progressively worsens)
- Fears of shock or vomiting
- No disturbance in body image or fear of weight gain
- Pica is an eating disorder that includes food products that are not commonly thought to be food. These foods do not have any nutritional value, such as fur, mud, and paint chips.
The Bottom Line
The categories above are designed to understand the most common eating disorders better.
Eating disorders are conditions of mental health that usually need treatment. They can also be harmful to the body if you do not treat them.
If you have an eating disorder, seek treatment from a healthcare provider.
