The 6 Mostly Common Types of Eating Disorders & Symptoms
March 9, 2022
Friends, let us tell you that although the word eating is in the name, eating disorders are more than eating. And at the same time they are complex mental health conditions that often require therapy as well as the intervention of psychological specialists to change their course.
Friends, let us tell you that these disorders have been described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) of the American Psychiatric Association.
It should be noted that in the United States alone, an estimated 20 million women and 10 million men have this eating disorder at some point in their lives.
This article describes the 6 most common types of eating disorders as well as their symptoms.
What are eating disorders?
Let us tell you that these eating disorders are a series of psychological conditions and the one that causes them to develop unhealthy eating habits. And those obsessions about food, body weight or body size can start with it.
It should be noted that in severe cases, eating disorders can lead to serious health consequences and can even lead to death if left untreated.
Be aware that people with eating disorders can have a variety of symptoms. Friends, however, most often they involve severe food restrictions, overeating, and purging behaviors such as either vomiting or over-exercising.
It should be noted that although eating disorders can affect people of any gender at any life stage, they are more often reported in adolescents and young women. And friends, in fact, 13% of young people may experience at least one eating disorder by the age of 20.
To sum up, eating disorders are mental health conditions that are marked by an obsession with food or body shape. And they can affect anyone, but they are most prevalent in young women.
What is their reason?
Friends, let us tell you that experts believe that eating disorders can be due to various factors.
One of these is genetics. Although twins were included in twin and adoption studies, and those that were separated at birth and adopted by different families, provide some evidence that eating The disorder itself can be hereditary.
This type of research has generally shown that if the same twin gets an eating disorder, and that is, the other has an average of 50% chance.
Personality traits are another reason for this. In particular, neuroticism, perfectionism, and impulsivity are three personality traits most often associated with a higher risk of developing an eating disorder.
Other possible reasons include perceived pressure to be thin, cultural preferences for thinness, as well as exposure to media promoting such ideals.
It is, in fact, some eating disorders that do not exist in most cultures and are not in touch with Western ideals of thinness.
Let that be said, these culturally accepted ideals of thinness exist in many areas of the world. However, in some countries, some individuals develop an eating disorder. And so on, they are likely caused by a mix of factors.
More recently, some experts have proposed that differences in brain structure as well as biology may play a role in the development of eating disorders.
And that in particular, levels of the brain messenger serotonin as well as dopamine may be factors (5, 6).
And that however, more study is needed before strong conclusions can be drawn.
And to sum it up, eating disorders can be caused by many factors. These include genetics, as well as brain biology, personality traits and then cultural norms.
1. Anorexia Nervosa
Let us tell you that anorexia nervosa is probably the most famous eating disorder.
In addition, it usually develops during adolescence or young adulthood and affects more women than men.
Note that people with anorexia usually see themselves as overweight, even if they are dangerously underweight. They constantly monitor their weight, and at the same time they avoid eating certain types of foods and at the same time severely limit their calories.
So the common symptoms of anorexia nervosa include (8):
- Let us tell you that it is much less weight than people of the same age and at the same time height.
- very restrictive eating patterns
- An intense fear of gaining weight despite being underweight or behaving consistently to avoid gaining weight
- The relentless pursuit of thinness and, at the same time, reluctance to maintain a healthy weight
- It should be noted that body weight or perceived body size has a huge impact on self-esteem.
- A distorted body image, one that involves refusing to be seriously underweight
- It should be noted that obsessive-compulsive symptoms are also often present. For example, many people who suffer from anorexia often engage in constant thoughts about food, and may obsessively collect or store food.
Friends, such individuals may also have difficulty eating in public and at the same time they may display a strong desire to control their environment, and that limits their ability to be comfortable .
It is to be noted that anorexia is officially classified into two subtypes – the restrictive type as well as the binge eating and purging type (8).
Tell friends that people with restricted type lose weight only through dieting, fasting or excessive exercise.
Explain that this binge eating and at the same time that purging person can eat large amounts of food and they can either eat very little of it. In both cases, they cleanse after eating, as well as using activities such as vomiting, taking a laxative or diuretic, or exercising excessively.
Let us tell you that anorexia can be very harmful for the body. And that is, over time, the person living with it may experience thinning of their bones, infertility, brittle hair and nails, as well as the development of a layer of fine hair all over their body.
In severe cases, anorexia can result in either heart, brain, or multi-organ failure and death.
And also this summary People with anorexia nervosa can limit their food intake or compensate for it through various purging behaviors. And they have a deep fear of gaining weight even when they are seriously underweight.
2. Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is another well-known eating disorder.
Like anorexia, bulimia tends to develop during adolescence and early adulthood and appears to be less common in males than females.
Be aware that people with bulimia often eat unusually large amounts of this food over a specific period of time.
Friends, that each episode of binge eating usually continues until that person becomes full of pain. During a binge, the person usually feels and cannot stop or control how much they are eating.
Note that bingeing can occur with any type of food, but it usually occurs with foods that a person would normally avoid.
Explain that the person with this bulimia then tries to make up for the calories consumed and at the same time they cleanse to relieve the discomfort of the intestine.
Friends, common cleansing practices include forced vomiting, fasting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas, as well as excessive exercise.
Friends, those symptoms can look very similar to the binge eating or purging subtypes of anorexia nervosa. And that is, however, individuals with bulimia usually maintain a relatively normal weight, rather than being underweight.
And those are the common symptoms of bulimia nervosa (8):
- Those recurrent episodes of binge eating, such as this feeling of loss of control
- Recurrent episodes of inappropriate purging behavior to prevent weight gain
- And with this one’s self-esteem is highly influenced by body size and weight.
- And then this is the fear of gaining weight despite being of normal weight.
- And side effects of bulimia can include swelling as well as sore throat, swollen salivary glands, tooth enamel, tooth decay, acid reflux, intestinal irritation, severe dehydration, and hormonal disturbances.
Friends, let us tell you that in severe cases, bulimia can also cause imbalance in the level of electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium and calcium and that can lead to stroke or heart attack.
To sum up, people with bulimia nervosa eat large amounts of food in a short period of time, and they then purge. And at the same time, they have the fear of gaining weight even though they are of normal weight.
3. Binge Eating Disorder
It’s a believed that’s binge eating disorders is one the Mostly commons eating disorders, especially in the United States.
Note that it usually begins during adolescence and early adulthood, and with this, although it can develop later.
Friends, let us tell you that people with this disorder have symptoms similar to anorexia, that subtype of bulimia or binge eating.
Friends, for example, they usually eat unusually large amounts of food in a relatively short period of time and also I feel a lack of control during bingeing.
It may be noted that people with binge eating disorder do not restrict calories and do not use purging behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise, as well as to compensate for their binge.
So the common symptoms of binge eating disorder include:
- Explain that despite not feeling hungry, eat large amounts of food rapidly, secretly and at the same time it is uncomfortably full until full.
- And it’s only during episodes of binge eating that she feels a lack of control over it.
- Feelings of discomfort, such as shame, disgust, or guilt, when thinking about the binge eating behavior itself
- To compensate for the binging, it is no use purging behaviors such as calorie restriction, vomiting, excessive exercise, and either laxative or diuretic use.
Let us tell you that those people with binge eating disorder are often overweight or obese. It can also increase the risk of medical complications associated with excess weight, such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Friends, Summary People with binge eating disorder regularly and uncontrollably consume large amounts of food in a short period of time. Unlike people with all other eating disorders, they do not purge.
4. Pica
Let us tell you that this is another eating disorder that involves eating such things and those that are not considered to be that food.
Let us tell you that a person with pica craves snow, dirt, soil, chalk, soap, paper, hair, cloth, wool, pebbles, laundry detergent, and they either crave non-food items like cornstarch.
Let us tell you that pica can happen in adults as well as children and adolescents. And with that said, this disorder is most often seen in children, pregnant women and people with mental disabilities.
It is to be noted that individuals with pica may have an increased risk of poisoning, infection, injury to the intestine and nutritional deficiencies. And also depending on the substances ingested, this pica can be fatal.
Friends, however, in order to be considered pica, the consumption of non-food items should not be a normal part of one’s culture or religion. Furthermore, it should not be considered a socially acceptable practice by one’s peers.
Friends, tell this summary that people with pica crave for non-food items and eat them. And at the same time, I think this disorder can especially affect children, pregnant women as well as people with mental disabilities.
5. Rumor Disorder
Let us tell you that this is a rumored disorder and it is a newly recognized eating disorder.
Friends, it describes a situation as well as that in which a person regurgitates food that they have chewed and swallowed before, as well as I chew it again, and then either it Again he swallows or spits out.
So let us tell you that this rumor usually occurs within the first 30 minutes after a meal.
Friends, let us tell you that this disorder can develop only during infancy, childhood or adulthood. In infants, it develops between 3-12 months of age and often disappears on its own. And with this, children and adults with this condition usually only need that therapy to resolve it.
Friends, if it is not addressed in infants, and that rumination disorder can result in weight loss as well as severe malnutrition and one that can be fatal.
Also, adults with this disorder can limit the amount of food they eat, and with that, especially in public places. This can only reduce their weight and reduce their weight (8, 14).
Let us tell you that rumination disorder can affect people at all stages of life. People with this condition usually regurgitate recently swallowed food. Then, they chew it again and either he swallows it or he spit it out.
6. Avoidant/Restrictive Eating Disorders
Let us tell you that this avoidance/restrictive eating disorder (ARFID) is the new name of an old disorder.
The term was known as “eating disorder of infancy and early childhood”, and was previously known as a reserved diagnosis for children under the age of 7.
It should be noted that although ARFID usually develops during infancy or early childhood, it can persist into adulthood. What’s more, it is equally common among men as well as women.
Explain that people with this disorder experience difficulty in eating only because of lack of interest in food or distaste for certain smell, taste, color, texture or temperature.
So the common symptoms of ARFID include:
- Explain that it is the avoidance or restriction of food intake that prevents the person from eating enough calories and either this nutrient
- and also eating habits that interfere with normal social functions, such as eating with others
- as well as that weight loss or this poor growth for age and height only
- as well as nutritional deficiencies or supplementation and either this dependence on tube feeding
- It is important to note that ARFID extends beyond normal behaviours, such as picky eating in children and low food intake in older adults.
In addition, it does not include abstinence or restriction from foodstuffs due to lack of availability or religious or cultural practices.
Let us tell you that in summary, ARFID is an eating disorder due to which people eat less. This is due to either a lack of interest in food or a strong distaste for the look, smell or taste of certain foods.
Other eating disorders
In addition to the above six eating disorders, there are also lesser known or less common eating disorders. They generally fall under one of three categories:
- purification disorder. It is to be noted that individuals with purulent disorder often use purging behaviors such as vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, and either excessive exercise to control their weight or their size. Friends that though, they don’t binge.
- Night Eating Syndrome. Let us tell you that people suffering from this syndrome often eat excessive food only after waking up from sleep.
- And that’s its other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED). While not found in the DSM-5, and that includes any other conditions that have symptoms similar to an eating disorder and that do not fit into any of the above categories.
- Let us tell you that this is a disorder that can currently come under OSFED, and that is orthorexia. Note that although it is increasingly mentioned in the media as well as in scientific studies, orthorexia has not yet been recognized by the current DSM as a separate eating disorder.
Let us tell you that people with orthorexia have an obsessive focus on healthy eating to an extent, which disrupts their daily life.
For example, the patient may eliminate entire food groups for fear that they are unhealthy. And it can also lead to malnutrition, severe weight loss, difficulty eating out at home, and emotional distress.
For example, the patient may eliminate entire food groups for fear that they are unhealthy. And it can also lead to malnutrition, severe weight loss, difficulty eating out at home, and emotional distress.
Let us tell you that people with orthorexia rarely focus on losing weight. Rather, it is their self-worth, identity or satisfaction that depends on how well they follow their self-imposed dietary rules.
To sum up, purging disorder and night eating syndrome are two additional eating disorders that are currently not well described. The OSFED category includes all eating disorders, such as orthorexia, and those that do not fit into any other category.
Bottom-line
The above categories are meant to provide a better understanding of the most common eating disorders as well as dispel the myths about them.
Explain that these eating disorders are mental health conditions that usually require treatment. If left untreated, they can be harmful to the body.
Friends, if you have an eating disorder or you know someone who may have an eating disorder, and he or she may seek help from a health care practitioner who specializes in eating disorders.
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