Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are a range of psychological conditions that cause unhealthy

eating habits to develop. They might start with an obsession with food, body weight, or body shape. In severe cases, eating disorders can cause serious health consequences and may even result in death if left untreated. Those with eating disorders can have a variety of symptoms. However, most include the severe restriction of food, food binges, or purging behaviors like vomiting or over-exercising.

3 Most Common Types of Eating Disorders

1. Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is likely the most well-known eating disorder.

It generally develops during adolescence or young adulthood. People with anorexia generally view themselves as overweight, even if they’re dangerously underweight. They tend to constantly monitor their weight, avoid eating certain types of foods, and severely restrict their calories.

Symptoms of anorexia nervosa include

• being considerably underweight compared with people of similar age and height

• very restricted eating patterns

• an intense fear of gaining weight or persistent behaviors to avoid gaining weight, despite being underweight

• a relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a healthy weight

• a heavy influence of body weight or perceived body shape on self-esteem

• a distorted body image, including denial of being seriously underweight

2. Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is another well-known eating disorder.

Like anorexia, bulimia tends to develop during adolescence and early adulthood

People with bulimia frequently eat unusually large amounts of food in a specific period of time. Each binge eating episode usually continues until the person becomes painfully full. During a binge, the person usually feels that they cannot stop eating or control how much they are eating.Binges can happen with any type of food but most commonly occur with foods the individual would normally avoid.Symptoms may appear very similar to those of the binge eating or purging subtypes of anorexia nervosa. However, individuals with bulimia usually maintain a relatively normal weight, rather than becoming underweight.

symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:

• recurrent episodes of binge eating with a feeling of lack of control

• recurrent episodes of inappropriate purging behaviors to prevent weight gain

• a self-esteem overly influenced by body shape and weight

• a fear of gaining weight, despite having a normal weight

Binge eating disorder

Binge eating disorder is believed to be one of the most common eating disorders

It typically begins during adolescence and early adulthood, although it can develop later on. Individuals with this disorder have symptoms similar to those of bulimia or the binge eating subtype of anorexia. For instance, they typically eat unusually large amounts of food in relatively short periods of time and feel a lack of control during binges.

symptoms of binge eating disorder include:

• eating large amounts of foods rapidly, in secret and until uncomfortably full, despite not feeling hungry

• feeling a lack of control during episodes of binge eating

• feelings of distress, such as shame, disgust, or guilt, when thinking about the binge eating behavior

• no use of purging behaviors, such as calorie restriction, vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative or diuretic use, to compensate for the binging.

Eating disorders are mental health conditions that usually require treatment. They can also be damaging to the body if left untreated.

If you have an eating disorder or know someone that might have one, seek help from a healthcare practitioner that specializes in eating disorders.

"Talking helps"