5 Types of Eating Disorders with Causes and Symptoms

What is an eating disorder?

Eating disorders are psychiatric illnesses that affect an individual’s eating behaviors, thoughts surrounding food, and overall physical well-being. These disordered eating patterns are a result of these conditions and can have severe consequences on both the individual’s physical and mental health.

Here are the different types of eating disorders and their causes and symptoms:

1. Anorexia Nervosa:

Causes: An extreme fear of gaining weight, a skewed perception of one’s body, and social pressure to be thin are common causes of anorexia. Environmental and genetic variables may also be important.

Symptoms:

• Severe diet restriction that results in a noticeably low body weight.
• Severe obsession with body image, weight, and diet.
• Refusal to keep a weight that is healthful.
• Overdoing the exercise.
• Distorted perception of one’s body.
• Denial of how dangerous being underweight is.
• Depression and anxiety.

2. Bulimia Nervosa:

Causes: Fear of gaining weight, physical dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem are frequently associated with bulimia. Stress, trauma, or hereditary causes might potentially set it off.

Symptoms:

• Repeated episodes of binge eating that are followed by inappropriate methods of coping such as self-induced vomiting, the use of laxatives or diuretics, or excessive physical activity.
• A feeling of helplessness when having binging episodes.
• Obsession with the size and weight of the body.
• Frequent visits to the restroom following meals.
• Oral health issues, sore throats, and electrolyte abnormalities brought on by purging.
• Mood fluctuations, despair, and anxiety.

3. Binge-Eating Disorder (BED):

Causes: Although the precise origins of BED are not entirely known, emotional and psychological variables including stress, trauma, or a history of dieting are frequently linked to the disorder.

Symptoms:

• Recurrent episodes of eating a lot of food in a short period of time, even when you’re not hungry.
• Having episodes of binge eating and feeling helpless.
• Eating alone or covertly in order to conceal the behavior.
• Guilt and distress following a binge meal.
• Not using compensatory actions on a regular basis, like throwing up or exercising too much.
• Obesity as well as weight gain in some cases.
• Anxiety, sadness, and emotional distress.

4. Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED):

OSFED refers to eating disorders that don’t strictly fit into the binge-eating disorder, bulimia, or anorexia categories. It can include a range of behaviors and symptoms that nevertheless have a substantial influence on an individual’s life and well-being.

5. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID):

The hallmarks of ARFID include highly selective eating habits that are frequently brought on by aversions to particular food textures, sensory sensitivity, or a fear of choking or vomiting. It may cause children to grow poorly and receive insufficient nutrition.

How can these disorders be treated?

An individual’s physical and mental health may be negatively impacted by eating disorders, including electrolyte imbalances, heart issues, gastrointestinal issues, emotional distress, and malnourishment. If you believe that you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, you must get professional assistance. Nutritional counseling, psychological therapy, and medical treatment for eating disorders are frequently offered by medical professionals and therapists who specialize in treating eating disorders. Early intervention can improve the chances of recovery.