What is an Eating Disorder?
You’ve heard the term passed around, but do you truly understand it? Read on to find out.
First and foremost, eating disorders are not “over-diets,” but are complex and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Eating disorders negatively impact every area of an individual’s life. An eating disorder is a clinical diagnosis characterized by extreme concerns related to eating behaviors, body weight, and body image. While many people with eating disorders are unaware of their illness, they often go to extreme lengths to hide their unhealthy behaviors.
There are several types of eating disorders:
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an underweight appearance, body image distortion, and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. This fear causes individuals to deprive themselves of nourishment and forces them to believe they must exercise excessively.
Bulimia nervosa, like other eating disorders, is hard to spot. An individual with bulimia nervosa typically undergoes periods of binge eating immediately followed by purging. Methods of purging include self-induced vomiting, fasting, over-exercising, and the misuse of laxatives, enemas, or diuretics.
Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia nervosa as it is identified by regular episodes of binge eating. However, unlike bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder is not compensated for through purging. Binge eating can feel chaotic, uncontrollable, and highly distressing.
ARFID stands for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. This disorder is defined by a persistent and disturbing pattern of eating that leads to malnutrition. It is associated with a fear of the consequences of eating, such as choking, or a phobia of particular foods.
All types of eating disorders must be treated by a team of professionals, often including registered dietitians, psychologists, and doctors. If you or a loved one is struggling with any type of eating disorder, you deserve treatment. Don’t let anyone minimize your struggles by falsely claiming you “over-dieted.”
Sources:
Eating disorders explained. Eating Disorders Victoria. Retrieved January 3, 2022 from https://www.eatingdisorders.org.au/eating-disorders-a-z/eating-disorders-explained/