Types of Eating Disorders

A study by the National Associate of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reported that approximately 15% of those suffering from anorexia die within ten years after contracting the disorder, 20% will die after 20 years due to premature complications related to their eating disorder, and up to 40% have full recovery.  Over the last few years  eating disorders have soared in adolescents.  

These startling statistics shows the need to provide appropriate treatment in order to battling this disease and the lack of professionals specializing in eating disorder nutrition counseling is unfortunately extremely limited but they are there if you do your research. Eating disorders are deadly diseases and identifying warning signs can mean the difference between life and death for you or your loved one.

Binge eating disorder BED is the most common eating disorder in the United States.. It is characterized by recurrent, uncontrolled episodes of consuming significantly more food in a short period of time than most individuals would eat under similar circumstances. B.E.D. is a very serious eating disorder with similar characteristics to bulimia, except without the behavior of purging. It occurs at least once a week, on average for over three months. During these episodes an individual may engage in the following....

 Bulimia is characterized by excessive or compulsive consumption of food (bingeing) accompanied by the act of getting rid of the food consumed (purging). 

Individuals suffering from bulimia often describe their struggle as feeling a complete loss of control when eating. This feeling leads to a regular intake of an excessive amount of food in a short period of time, ending with the ridding of the food through purging. 

The compensatory behaviors of purging include self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, periods of fasting, and/or excessive or compulsive exercise episodes.

Orthorexia is characterized by an obsession with following a “healthy diet”.  Individuals believe they are engaging in the best approach for their body by eating healthy, however, the accompanied behaviors often lead to something more severe. Sufferers are fixated with maintaining the “perfect diet”.An individual with orthorexia exhibits signs and symptoms similar to those of anxiety disorders along with anorexia and/or bulimia behaviors.

Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED) is characterized by maladaptive behaviors correlated to eating, food and body image, yet does not meet all diagnostic criteria for another specific diagnosis such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder. The following is a list of physical and behavior symptoms, however not all may be present, dependent on the accompanied eating disorder.

• Eating Disorders In Athletes
• Post-Bariatric Surgery Disorder
• Avoidant-Restrictive Behavior
• Rumination Disorder
• Night Eating Syndrome