Eating Disorders 101

There are a lot of misconceptions about eating disorders, from who gets them to think that it is just about the food. Eating disorders affect all gender identities, backgrounds, ethnicities, and body sizes. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of eating disorders.

What is an eating disorder?

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, "An eating disorder is a serious, but treatable, illness with medical and psychiatric aspects. The disorders can become very serious, chronic, and, sometimes, even life-threatening if not recognized and treated appropriately. People with an eating disorder often become obsessed with food, body image, and weight. Treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach with an experienced care team."

While eating disorders can present in a variety of ways, the most prevalent include:

Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Binge eating disorder
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder
Orthorexia

Eating Disorders Defined:

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa manifests in the following ways:

Restricting food in a way that causes, typically, a significantly low body weight
Intense fear of gaining weight
Seeing the body as larger than it is
Bodyweight or shape having undue influence on self-perception
Denial of the seriousness of current body weight

Despite the focus on being underweight in anorexia nervosa, research shows that anorexia nervosa can also exist in larger-bodied people.

Bulimia nervosa

The hallmarks of bulimia nervosa include:

Eating large amounts of food within 2 hours and having a sense of a lack of control during this time
Engaging in compensatory behaviors such as inducing vomiting, using laxatives, exercising with a focus on calorie burning, and using diet pills
Like anorexia nervosa, body weight and shape have an undue influence on self-perception

Binge Eating Disorder

The following are signs of Binge eating disorder (BED):

Recurring episodes where there is a lack of control while consuming large amounts of food
Eating quickly and beyond fullness
Being secretive about the binge eating
Experiencing distress about the binge eating
"Large amounts of food" is an amount that is more than most people would eat in similar circumstances in a short period

BED does not include purging behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, or exercise, as is seen with bulimia nervosa.

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is more common in children and young adolescents and has a unique presentation. In ARFID, there is an eating or feeding disturbance so pervasive that appropriate nutritional needs, resulting in one or more of the following cannot be met:

Significant weight loss
Nutritional deficiency
Dependency on nutritional supplements
Interference in social functioning

ARFID is distinct from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa because the eating disturbance isn't related to beliefs about size, weight, or shape.
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder is significant distress similar to the other eating disorders; however, unable to meet the full criteria for another eating disorder diagnosis.

Orthorexia

Orthorexia does not have specific diagnosis criteria like the eating disorders mentioned previously. Orthorexia shares some characteristics of anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder; however, it is different.

Orthorexia occurs when there is a need to eat in a clean, pure, or natural manner, as opposed to achieving a specific body shape or size. Like anorexia nervosa, orthorexia can result in severe consequences, including starvation due to extreme food rules and criteria.

Diagnosis, Treatment, & Resources

How is an eating disorder diagnosis made?
The National Eating Disorder Association has a screening tool for people 13 and older.

If an eating disorder is suspected, a physical exam by a physician, psychological evaluation by a mental health professional is essential, and nutrition assessment by a registered dietitian is necessary.

What is involved in treatment?
Eating disorder treatment usually involves a treatment team that includes a medical doctor, a mental health professional, and a registered dietitian. Treatment is chosen based on what is best for the patient. Various treatment options exist, including outpatient and inpatient, and multiple treatments in between. Meeting with all three of the treatment team members is ideal for recovery.

5 Resources to Learn More about Eating Disorders