Types of Eating Disorders

Individuals suffering from an Eating Disorder adopt harmful eating habits which disturb their physical health. It is a syndrome, an illness, usually occurring in teenage girls and women, but can be found in men too. It is caused due to psychiatric and other disorders like depression and anxiety disorders, resulting in poor nutrition that damages body organs and even resulting in death in some extreme cases. Eating depends on several physical and psychological factors around the person and disturbs the bodily activities.

Types of Eating Disorder -

Three major types of eating disorders can be commonly seen – Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder.

Anorexia Nervosa:

Anorexia Nervosa usually begins at a young age and involves starvation. The worst aspect of this disorder is that they are convinced that they are overweight and try shedding off the excess, which leads to excessive weight loss (at least 15% below the normal body weight). Individuals have the fear of gaining weight and so stick to rigorous exercise routines, get into the habit of measuring every food item for the calorie intake, and even adopt strange eating habits and refuse to eat in front of others. Women with this disorder may suffer from loss of monthly menstrual periods and men suffer from impotency.

Bulimia Nervosa:

People with the condition Bulimia Nervosa consume excessive amounts of food and then get rid of excess calories by vomiting, using laxatives, diuretics or enemas or by way of rigorous exercise routines. Using any or combinations of all the forms of purging, individuals suffering from this condition secretly binge and purge, and manage to maintain normal or above normal body weight, so the problem remains hidden from others for a longer time. Anger, fear and depression can be commonly seen among such people. Ranging from once or twice a week, they can even binge and purge several times in a day. Heavy dieting between binging and purging can also be seen. About half of the people suffering from Anorexia are seen suffering from Bulimia. Beginning at adolescence, this can be seen in women and sometimes men too.

Binge Eating Disorder:

Binge Eating Disorder resembling Bulimia Nervosa involves excessive consumption of food or binging. However, it differs from Bulimia – there is no purging of excess calories. Individuals in this condition lack self control while eating, consume excessive quantities of food until they are uncomfortable, and have difficulty losing weight and keeping it off. Obesity and weight fluctuations can be seen. Reportedly, about 2% of the population, more women than men and about 30% people undergoing medically supervised weight control programs suffer from this disorder.

Recommended Reading

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5. Male Eating Disorders
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