Eating Disorders

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Living With Bulimia Anorexia Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment
    An eating disorder is a mental health condition in which the person affected experiences significant disruptions in their eating behaviors as well as in their thoughts and emotions related to food. People who struggle with eating disorders often become preoccupied with food and their body weight. These conditions can be life-threatening if left untreated.

    Additionally, eating disorders often occur together with other mental health issues like depression, anxiety, panic disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Without treatment, eating disorders can cause a number of health-related problems including cardiovascular issues, gastrointestinal issues, and malnutrition. However, with proper treatment, people affected by eating disorders can resume health eating habits and can improve their mental health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Determining if you have an eating disorder begins with examining your thoughts and behaviors surrounding food, body image and body weight. Although there is an extensive list of warning signs, not everyone will display every symptom. If you suspect you have an eating disorder, it’s important to talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. The chance for recovery increases the sooner an eating disorder is addressed.

Learn More: Symptoms of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex disorders that stem from a variety of factors including genetics, cultural ideals, environmental, psychological, and biological influences. These risk factors may also include mental health conditions like anxiety and depression along with body image issues.

Learn More: Causes of Eating Disorders

To help a loved one with an eating disorder, be supportive of their recovery efforts without trying to fix, control, or counsel them.1 Instead, be patient and encouraging. Empower them to tackle their disordered eating and talk to a counselor or therapist.

There is some evidence that eating disorders are heritable. In fact, in one study of twins, researchers discovered that 40% to 60% of the risk for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder arises from genetic influences. However, the development of an eating disorder is a complex process impacted by a variety of factors and not just about genetic influences.

Learn More: What Causes an Eating Disorder?

Key Terms

Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by not eating enough and impacts all areas of a person’s life. A person affected by anorexia nervosa, may have a low body weight and a distorted body image. They also may have an intense fear of gaining weight and often use extreme measures to control their weight and shape.

Learn more: Warning Signs of Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging or another method designed to prevent weight gain such as the use of laxatives, excessive exercises, and fasting. Due to guilt and shame associated with bulimia nervosa, people affected by this disorder will go to great lengths to hide their behaviors.

Learn more: Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa
Binge-Eating Disorder
Binge eating is an eating disorder characterized by consuming large amounts of food even when the person isn’t hungry. Typically, the person feels out of control as well as a sense of shame and guilt over their binge eating. Unlike people with bulimia nervosa, they do not try to purge the food after it is consumed.

Learn more: What Is Binge Eating?
Rumination Disorder
Rumination disorder is an eating disorder that involves bringing previously chewed or previously swallowed food back up in order to spit it out or re-swallow it. These behaviors are often done in secret because of a fear of what people will think.

Learn more: What Is Rumination Disorder?
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
ARFID is an eating disorder in which the person affected has a strong preference for a narrow range of foods and may refuse to eat any food that is outside of these parameters. Unlike other eating disorders, people with ARFID do not worry about weight gain or body composition.

Learn more: Understanding Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Psychological Evaluation
During a psychological evaluation, a psychologist or therapist will use a variety of tests and assessments to measure and observe a person’s thoughts and behaviors. At the completion of a psychological evaluation, the psychologist will make a diagnosis and recommend treatment options.

Learn more: How Eating Disorders Are Diagnosed
Family-Based Therapy
Sometimes referred to as the Maudsley Method, family-based therapy (FBT) is the leading treatment option for treating adolescents with eating disorders. FBT involves the whole family and primarily takes place in outpatient settings. It is the fastest and most effective treatment for children, adolescents, and young adults.

Learn more: Family-Based Therapy for Eating Disorders
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is a type of treatment that focuses on helping a person learn how to identify destructive behaviors and thought processes. Through CBT, a person’s thoughts and behaviors are challenged and replaced with more realistic thoughts and behaviors.

Learn more: What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

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