Main Types Of Eating Disorders

Almost everyone will try dieting once in their life. Dieting is so common for many reasons, including out of a medical need such as identifying a food allergy, transitioning to eating healthier, or trying to maintain a healthy weight. Dieting isn’t an issue so long as it’s done in a healthy way.

Eating disorders, on the other hand, are mental illnesses. They aren’t a choice for those who deal with them! Eating disorders typically involve significant mental distress, both directly related to the person’s actions as well as indirectly.

Although they are serious, eating disorders are very treatable. Many people with serious cases will go to an eating disorder recovery center or other eating disorder facility with a recommendation from a doctor. Psychotherapy is also recommended as treatment, particularly with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. There is even online eating disorder therapy available!

Anorexia

Anorexia is the most well-known eating disorder out there. Those who have it experience dramatic weight loss or a lack of healthy weight gain. Women with this condition deal with a distorted body image. This is why it’s common to see someone who is quite underweight still believe they’re fat if they have anorexia. Those with this eating disorder restrict the calories as well as the specific foods they are allowed to eat. Anorexia typically begins in adolescence, although it is common in adult women too.

Besides weight loss, signs of anorexia include wearing baggy clothing, saying they feel fat often, and avoiding eating in front of others. Physical symptoms include always feeling cold, stomach pains, fainting, brittle nails, acid reflux, thinning hair, and anemia.

Bulimia

Bulimia is another common eating disorder. Similar to anorexia, those who have it are quite preoccupied with their weight and avoiding gaining weight. However, the way in which this eating disorder presents itself is fairly different. Rather than avoiding food entirely, women with bulimia go through cycles of eating a lot of food and purging it. They will eat in front of others, and then go to the bathroom when they can to vomit the food up. The most popular ways for women with bulimia to purge are to stick their fingers down their throat to self-induce vomiting or use laxatives to help move the food along. Both of these methods are intended to prevent their body from absorbing the calories in the food.

Bulimia shares many of the same physical symptoms as anorexia. They will, however, have more weight fluctuations. Enamel erosion is also common due to self-induced vomiting. Others include always going to the bathroom after eating, purchasing a lot of laxatives, frequently dieting, drinking an excessive amount of water, and chewing gum. Women with bulimia also tend to wear baggy clothes!

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder (BED) is another major eating disorder, though it’s official inclusion in the DSM-5 is fairly new as compared to anorexia and bulimia. Like bulimia, women with this condition engage in binge eating. The binge-eating episodes in BED are often to the point of discomfort in short periods. Those with BED also find they lose control during these episodes and are wracked with guilt after. The major difference, however, is unlike in bulimia, those with BED don’t purge afterward.

Common signs of BED include eating faster than normal, eating until stomach discomfort happens, and eating lots of food when not hungry. Those with this disorder also often make time in their schedule for binge eating, show concern with their weight, and diet frequently. They often deal with disgust and guilt as well as acid reflux, constipation, and stomach cramps.

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is another newer eating disorder in the DSM-5. It is similar to anorexia in that both conditions involve significant restrictions in what foods are ‘allowed.’ The main difference between the two is those with ARFID don’t have the same fear of being fat or getting fat. It is also worth noting ARFID means people aren’t getting enough calories to grow properly or maintain healthy body functions. This makes it quite different than just being a picky eater!

Like anorexia, those with ARFID are often underweight, experience dizziness, and have thinning hair. They'll also see irregular menstrual cycles, cold hands and feet, and issues with wound healing. Other physical signs include pain in the abdomen, constipation, and lethargy. There’ll be a lack of interest in food, the types of food eaten will become narrower over time, and they will dress in baggier clothes to hide weight loss.

Rumination Disorder

Rumination disorder is a lesser-known condition that involves the regular regurgitation of food. Specifically, those with this condition regurgitate their food regularly for at least a month. When regurgitation occurs, those with this disorder will swallow it again, chew it again, or even just spit the food out. This will happen without effort.

Those with rumination disorder don’t display signs of distress about regurgitating their food. This means they won’t usually appear upset, disgusted, or stressed. It is important to note that for someone to have rumination disorder, the regurgitation must not appear alongside another eating disorder or medical condition.