Eating disorders are characterized by irregular eating habits and severe distress or concern about body weight or shape. It may include eating extremely small amounts of food or none at all. In another type of eating disorder, individual may overeat or eat in secret.
An eating disorder may first appear during teenage or young adult years. However, it can develop at any time in life. This means children and even elderly individuals may be at risk as well. Men and women are both affected by eating disorders. However, this condition is more common among women and young girls. Men with an eating disorder may go undiagnosed because it’s often falsely considered a female-only condition.
Although these conditions are treatable, the symptoms can be destructive and deadly if not addressed. Eating disorders commonly coexist with other conditions, such as anxiety disorders, substance abuse, or depression.
The most common forms of eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-Eating Disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa: The person suffering from anorexia nervosa will limit their calorie intake and show an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though their weight is significantly low. The person is also reliant on their body weight and shape for their self-evaluation.
Bulimia Nervosa: It is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge-eating large amounts of food with a sense of lack of control. The person also recurrently tries to make up for eating by compensating with self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, fasting, or use of laxatives or diuretics. People who suffer from Bulimia may fear weight gain and feel severely unhappy with their body size and shape.
Binge-Eating Disorder: A binge-eating episode may include eating more rapidly than normal, eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry, eating alone because of embarrassment over how much one is eating and feeling disgusted with oneself. However, different from Bulimia, episodes of binge-eating are not followed by compensating such as fasting or excessive exercise.
While the exact cause is unknown, certain factors may play a role in the development of an eating disorder. This could include emotional issues like low self-esteem or impulsive behavior. Traumatic events, abuse, or pressure to conform to society’s definition of beauty may also trigger a shift toward unhealthy behaviors.
Treatments range from support groups to inpatient treatment centers, are available and based on the severity of the eating disorder. In any case, recognizing and addressing the eating disorder are crucial in being able to begin treatment.