10 Different Types Of Eating Disorders Explained By Medical Experts

Eating disorders could be really serious conditions, which affect psychological, social, and physical functioning as well.

Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders

Eating is indeed a really complicated part of life.

It is affected by almost every and any sort of things like the way we are raised, the genes we got, imagery in various media, our mental status, biological changes, and even injuries. This might be the reason why we get to see various types of eating disorders.

Eating also affects almost every aspect of our life and health. It is known to all that our body is structured on the basis of what we eat. At the same time, eating also determines our mood, overall mental health, and overall well-being.

This article is all about some major types of eating disorders. Before digging into the main topic, we would like to help you with some basic ideas about eating disorders.

What Is Eating Disorder?

These behavioral conditions are characterized by persistent and severe disturbance in eating behavior, which is particularly associated with emotions and distressing thoughts.

Eating disorders can be really serious conditions and affect social, psychological, and physical functions.

10 Different Types Of Eating Disorders Explained 

Now, as you have developed a basic understanding of eating disorders, here are the 10 different types of eating disorders along with explanations.

Anorexia Nervosa

Among all mental illnesses, experts have identified this as the most deadly mental illness. This is due to the fact that it has the highest mortality rate.

This particular condition includes extreme exercise, severe food restrictions, and other purging behaviors. Here are some of the common symptoms.

  • Intense fear of gaining weight.
  • Losing weight rapidly.
  • Refusal to acknowledge that low body weight can cause severe damages.
  • Heart damage.
  • Amenorrhea.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

BED, or binge eating disorder, is specifically characterized by several episodes of bingeing on a huge amount of food. In case an individual with BED consumes an excessive amount of any type of food, and that too within a time period of two hours.

Binges are often accompanied by a trance-like condition, feeling ashamed and guilty afterward, along with weight gain. Here, no purging behavior is noticed. Usually, people with BED are obese or overweight as a result of binging.

If you or your family members are suffering from Binge Eating Disorder, try seeking help from professionals for food addiction treatment services.

Bulimia Nervosa

This particular situation occurs when an individual is repeatedly binging on a huge amount of food and then purging it. Purging behavior involves forcing oneself to over-exercising, throw up, using laxatives and diet pills.

Both purging and binging behaviors are really dangerous, and they can lead to dangerous physical signs within a quick span of time.

Compulsive Over Eating (COE)

COE or compulsive overeating is quite similar to binge eating. However, the main difference between CEO and binge eating is an individual with Binge eating does not binge into spurts. Here, the person eats large amounts of food throughout the entire day.

You might find someone who eats a huge amount of food throughout the day. In this case, most victims gain a lot of weight.

Muscle Dysmorphia

Unlike most other types of eating disorders, when it comes to muscle dysmorphia tends to leave effects more on males than females. This particular disorder is distinguished by a disruptive obsession with physique and musculature.

An individual with this disorder always fixates on gaining the ‘perfect’ form of emasculation.

Orthorexia Nervosa

Orthorexia Nervosa is an unhealthy focus on eating healthily. Eating healthy is good for your health, but eating too much can negatively impact your body. When a person suffers from Orthorexia Nervosa, they become obsessed with the food.

It is a fixation on the righteousness of the food that individuals focus on eating healthy foods. Well, it might seem healthy at first, but gradually the person avoids eating other foods.

Prader Willi Syndrome

Prader Willi syndrome leads to obesity as a result of compulsive eating. It is basically caused by a genetic disease, which people inherit from their parents. Everything starts with poor feeding, slow development, and weak muscles in babies.

After that, during the individual’s childhood, the disease causes insatiable hunger. People, basically children with those particular symptoms, often struggle to adapt to a normal lifestyle and also develop diabetes.

Selective Eating Disorder

We can address selective eating disorders as picky eating. However, in this case, eating is at a debilitating and extreme level. Here the individual is so picky about the food that they usually stick to one or, in some cases, two meals.

As a result of this, they fall sick. As a result, the individual often suffers from malnutrition and also is underweight.

Drunkorexia

This particular term describes an eating disorder, which is also accompanied by alcoholism. An individual with this type of eating disorder restricts food and purges for saving calories for drinking alcohol.

In this condition, the individual does not eat the proper amount of food, and at the same time, drinks a lot of alcohol. As a result, the person often suffers from malnutrition. Along with that, the person also suffers from the harmful effects of too much alcohol consumption.

Pregorexia

We all know that during pregnancy, a woman gains a lot of weight along with other bodily changes. That is why most women go into pregnancy with a ready-made weight loss plan. Often that particular weight loss plan could be too extreme, which can endanger both the baby and mom.

Pregorexia should actually lead to coronary heart disease, low birth weight, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease risk, hypertension, and also depression. A pregnant woman should follow a properly nutritious diet for normal delivery.

FAQs

We totally understand, when it comes to eating disorders, we do not have enough idea about it. Apart from that, you might also have several questions in your head. We are answering some of the most common questions here.

What Can Be Classified As An Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders could be really serious conditions, which affect psychological, social, and physical functioning as well. We have already mentioned and explained some of the major types of eating disorders.

What Is The #1 Eating Disorder In The US Today?

Binge eating is the most common eating disorder in the United States Of America. Most people in the US are suffering from this particular type of eating disorder.

Conclusion

We have tried to offer you all the relevant information about different types of eating disorders. Still, in case you have any queries or doubts, you can directly contact us. We will try to come up with some reliable and effective solutions as soon as possible.

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I'm NOT a doctor! I'm just passionate about health and healthy leaving. The information on this website, such as graphics, images, text and all other materials, is provided for reference and educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. The content is not intended to be complete or exhaustive or to apply to any specific individual's medical condition.