What Are Eating Disorders?: Diagnosis Dictionary Treatment Center Near You

What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are psychological conditions characterized by unhealthy,

obsessive, or disordered eating habits. Eating disorders come with both
emotional and physical symptoms and include anorexia nervosa (voluntary
starvation), bulimia nervosa (binge-eating followed by purging), binge-eating
disorder (binge-eating without purging), and other or unspecified eating
disorders (disordered eating patterns that do not fit into another category).
Eating disorders occur more frequently in affluent cultures than in non-affluent

ones, but they are not exclusive to the well-off. A disproportionate number of
those diagnosed are young women in their teens and 20s, but anyone—
including young men and older adults of any gender—can develop an eating
disorder. Eating disorders often become all-consuming, forcing the afflicted to
focus on eating (or not eating) to the exclusion of much else in their life.
Biological factors, social and interpersonal pressures, and family history are
some of the factors associated with eating disorders. Culturally mediated
body-image concerns and personality traits like perfectionism and
obsessiveness also play a large role in the disorders, which are often
accompanied by depression or anxiety.
Treatment is rarely simple. Eating disorders may create additional medical

problems and can even be acutely life-threatening, requiring hospitalization
and forced nourishment. It often takes multidisciplinary teams of health
professionals—including psychotherapists, medical doctors, and specialized
dietitians or nutritionists—to bring about full recovery.
For more on eating disorders, see the Diagnosis Dictionary or find

a treatment center near you.
What Is Anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder marked by an extreme obsession with

weight loss or exercise. It is especially prevalent among young to middle-aged
women, and increasingly among young men, but it can affect anyone at any
age.
Characterized by a distorted sense of body image and extreme voluntary

starvation or overexercising—and closely associated
with perfectionism and depression—it is the most deadly psychiatric disorder.
The most common behavioral signs of anorexia include extreme dieting,
obsessive food rituals, and secretive and antisocial behavior.
Anorexia is highly resistant to treatment and is often accompanied

by anxiety and depression. Treatment may include cognitive behavioral
therapy, medication, nutrition education and management, and family-based
therapies, all of which may take place at specialized eating-disorder centers.
If the condition becomes life-threatening, the only recourse may be

hospitalization with forced feeding, which may create ethical and legal
dilemmas for all caregivers involved.
For more, see Anorexia Nervosa.

What Is Bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder marked by frequent cycles of binge-

eating excessive amounts of food, followed by purging. Purging is usually
done by self-induced vomiting but may sometimes include the use of
laxatives, diuretics, or non-purging compensatory behaviors, such as fasting
or overexercising.
The disorder typically begins during adolescence, but it can also develop earlier
or later. Regardless of age, it can be difficult to identify because those with
bulimia are often secretive about their eating and purging habits. Although
many people with bulimia are overweight, they generally have an
intense fear of weight gain and often suffer anxiety, depression, and poor self-
esteem.
Signs of bulimia include unusual eating behaviors, constant weight fluctuation,

frequent use of the bathroom, and avoidance of social events. Treatment
usually includes cognitive-behavioral or other forms
of psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, and nutrition counseling.
For more, see Bulimia Nervosa.
What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge-eating disorder is marked by recurrent episodes of extreme overeating
not accompanied by compensatory behavior; as a result, those with the
disorder are often overweight or obese.
People with this disorder tend to eat much more rapidly than normal and don't
stop until feeling uncomfortably full. They may consume large amounts of food
even when they're not hungry. They often eat alone because of shame
or embarrassment about their eating behaviors.
Many people experience occasional instances of overeating and may even

"binge" from time to time. To be considered a disorder, then, these behaviors
must occur at least two days a week for six months or more.
For more, see Binge-Eating Disorder.
What Are Other Eating Disorders?
Though anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder are the most well known,
eating disorders encompass a number of other conditions, too. These include
avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, rumination disorder, pica, and others.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is characterized by the avoidance or

restriction of food. People with the condition may be uninterested in food—
perhaps trying to avoid a negative experience they had in the past, or
because they are unsettled by particular sensory characteristics of food, such
as its smell or texture.
Rumination disorder is characterized by repeated regurgitation of food after

eating, bringing previously swallowed food up into the mouth without
displaying nausea, involuntary retching, or disgust. The food is typically then
re-chewed and spit out or swallowed again.
Pica is a condition characterized by the eating of one or more nonnutritive,
nonfood substances on a regular basis, such as paper, soap, or hair. Those
with the disorder typically do not have an aversion to food in general.
Other eating disorders, such as night eating syndrome or atypical anorexia,

may be classified under "other specified feeding and eating disorders" in
the DSM-5.
For more, see Types of Eating Disorders.
Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders involve disturbances in how individuals eat and perceive their
body and weight. But those disturbances can manifest in very different ways.
In some cases they can be obvious, such as dramatic weight loss or refusing
to eat. In other cases they can be subtle, such as developing rigid routines
around meals—only eating specific foods or at specific times—or beginning to
exercise obsessively. Still in others, signs of the disorder can be hidden, such
as going to the restroom after meals in the case of bulimia or eating in private
in the case of binge-eating disorder.
Mental health symptoms can also emerge from or be exacerbated by the

condition. People with eating disorders may become more withdrawn,
avoiding people or activities they previously enjoyed, or they may struggle
with mood swings and anxiety. Although it can be difficult to discuss,
recognizing an eating disorder early on can help the person seek the help
they need to recover.
For more, see Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders.

What Causes Eating Disorders?
There is no single cause of any eating disorder. It's not yet understood why
ostensibly voluntary behaviors associated with eating turn into disorders for
some people but not for others.
A disturbed relationship with food and a sense of emotional fragility are

hallmarks of all eating disorders. Eating disorders typically start out
unnoticed––a person eats a little more or a little less food than usual. The
urge to eat more or to eat less becomes increasingly compelling until it can
become the focus of a person's existence.
Biology also plays a role. Appetite control and the regulation of food intake is

highly complex, with many hormones in the brain and the body signaling
hunger and satiety. Evidence also suggests that eating disorders have genetic
roots.
Culture is thought to also play a significant role, as people—women especially

—are pressured to fit an ideal of beauty that is largely defined by weight.
Other circumstances factor in, too; the conditions can be triggered by stress,
social difficulty, loneliness, depression, trauma, or by dieting itself.
For more, see What Causes Eating Disorders?

How Are Eating Disorders Treated?
It can take a long time—sometimes years or decades—for people with an

eating disorder to decide to seek help. When they do, there are numerous
treatment options that can help them recover.
People with eating disorders often receive outpatient treatment, but severe
cases may require hospitalization or treatment at an inpatient facility.
Treatment involves a physician, a psychologist, and a nutritionist to address
the different elements of the illness. Therapies for eating disorders of any type
include cognitive behavioral therapy, and a version tailored to eating disorders
called enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as family-based
treatment.
For more, see How Are Eating Disorders Treated?
The Recovery Process
Recovering from an eating disorder can be a long and winding road. And once
in recovery, people must continue to observe and adapt to prevent setbacks
and relapses. Treatment can provide the necessary skills to do that.
In concrete terms, recovery means that a person no longer meets the

diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder, that they have healed both physically
and emotionally. That experience will be different for everyone, as they
develop a personalized approach to treatment, eating habits, social support,
and coping skills.
For more, see The Recovery Process.
Parenting a Child with an Eating Disorder
Watching a child suffer through an eating disorder can be deeply upsetting.

Parents shouldn’t blame themselves for the development of the disorder, but
they can take steps to provide support and help their child heal.
Different stages of the process require different actions. Those steps might
include recognizing the signs of a disorder, learning about the illness,
discussing it with the child, and encouraging them to seek treatment.
For more, see Parenting a Child with an Eating Disorder.

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What Are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are psychological conditions characterized by unhealthy,

Eating disorders occur more frequently in affluent cultures than in non-affluent

Treatment is rarely simple. Eating disorders may create additional medical

For more on eating disorders, see the Diagnosis Dictionary or find

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder marked by an extreme obsession with

Characterized by a distorted sense of body image and extreme voluntary

Anorexia is highly resistant to treatment and is often accompanied

If the condition becomes life-threatening, the only recourse may be

For more, see Anorexia Nervosa.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder marked by frequent cycles of binge-

Signs of bulimia include unusual eating behaviors, constant weight fluctuation,

For more, see Bulimia Nervosa.

What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

Many people experience occasional instances of overeating and may even

For more, see Binge-Eating Disorder.

What Are Other Eating Disorders?

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is characterized by the avoidance or

Rumination disorder is characterized by repeated regurgitation of food after

Other eating disorders, such as night eating syndrome or atypical anorexia,

For more, see Types of Eating Disorders.

Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders

Mental health symptoms can also emerge from or be exacerbated by the

For more, see Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders.

A disturbed relationship with food and a sense of emotional fragility are

Biology also plays a role. Appetite control and the regulation of food intake is

Culture is thought to also play a significant role, as people—women especially

For more, see What Causes Eating Disorders?

It can take a long time—sometimes years or decades—for people with an

For more, see How Are Eating Disorders Treated?

The Recovery Process

In concrete terms, recovery means that a person no longer meets the

For more, see The Recovery Process.

Parenting a Child with an Eating Disorder

Watching a child suffer through an eating disorder can be deeply upsetting.

For more, see Parenting a Child with an Eating Disorder.

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