What Is an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders are a group of conditions marked by an unhealthy relationship with food. They tend to develop during the teenage and young adult years, and they are much more common in girls and women. No one knows exactly what causes eating disorders. However, mental health issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, trouble dealing with emotions, and substance use problems seem to increase the risk.
At first, the focus on food may be a way to gain control over one aspect of a person’s life. Although it may start as simply eating a bit more or less than usual, the behavior can eventually take over their life. It can be hard to spot the signs of an eating disorder, especially early on. People with eating disorders may try to hide their food restrictions or wear baggy clothes to conceal the weight loss.
An eating disorder is a serious medical condition that can have long-term health consequences. That’s why it’s important to get help if you think that you or a loved one may have an eating disorder.
Types of Eating Disorders
There are four main types of eating disorders.
Anorexia nervosa
People with this eating disorder lose weight through excessive dieting, calorie restriction, and extreme exercise, sometimes to the point of starvation. They feel like they can never be thin enough and see themselves as overweight, even after they’ve lost a lot of weight.
Bulimia nervosa
People with this eating disorder go through cycles where they eat large amounts of food, known as bingeing. Then they purge through vomiting, extreme exercise, or other behaviors to avoid weight gain. Feeling like you’ve lost control over your eating is a sign of this eating disorder.
Binge eating disorder
This eating disorder involves episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short period. You may feel like you can’t control what or how much you eat. And you may try to hide it, even to people closest to you. Binge eating at least once a week for three months or more is considered binge eating disorder.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
People with this eating disorder either eat very little or avoid foods with certain colors, smells, textures, or tastes to help them lose weight. Some doctors call ARFID a selective eating disorder. It usually begins in childhood. But unlike typical picky eaters, children with ARFID don’t grow out of it when they get older.
Other eating disorders
A few other eating disorders also exist, including:
Orthorexia nervosa. People with this eating disorder are so obsessed with healthy eating that they severely restrict what they eat. Their limited diet may lead to nutrient deficiencies.
Pica. This is when someone eats things that aren’t food, such as grass, dirt, or chalk. It’s often linked to mental health conditions such as autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia. Pica can be harmful to your health if not treated.
Purging disorder. People with this eating disorder purge themselves of food they’ve eaten by vomiting, using laxatives, or taking diuretic medicines. Purging disorder is different from bulimia because no food binge comes before the purge.
Rumination disorder. In this rare condition, recently eaten food comes back into the mouth. Sometimes, the person may chew and swallow the food again and might not realize they’re doing it.
Other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED). Doctors use this umbrella term to describe symptoms that don’t exactly fit any other eating disorder. OSFED may include some but not all symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, or another eating disorder. Like other eating disorders, it can be a way to feel more in control or to deal with unpleasant feelings. People with OSFED need treatment, just like those with other types of eating disorders.
Credit: webmd
