What Kinds of Eating Disorders Are There?

Eating is a challenging aspect of daily living. It is influenced by a wide range of factors, including our DNA, our upbringing, our mental health, media imagery, bodily changes, and even injuries. The wide variety of eating problems is due to this.

The ICD and DSM both accept five different types of eating disorders as medical diseases (these are two manuals medical doctors and psychologists use to officially keep track of valid diagnoses).

Overview of Eating Disorders

A variety of distinct mental conditions fall under the umbrella of eating disorders. Their primary shared trait is that they all engage in detrimental food-related behaviour. There are many different behaviours, but excessive or restricted eating are the most frequent. Eating disorders can have detrimental bodily implications, including fatal ones.

The 5 Types of Eating Disorders

Those included in the ICD and DSM:

1. Anorexia Nervosa

The highest fatality rate of any mental condition, according to experts, is found in anorexia nervosa. This makes it the most serious of the 5 types of eating disorders, in our opinion. This condition necessitates rigorous exercise, severe dietary restriction, and other purging habits. Usually, the person will manifest the following signs and symptoms:

Extremely uncomfortable weight gain, even in little amounts.

staying underweight while continually losing weight. Friends and family may be alarmed by their svelte appearance.

2. Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a disorder that develops when a person frequently binges on a lot of food and then purges it. Purging activities can include forcing oneself to vomit, exercising excessively, and taking laxatives and diet medications. Both bingeing and purging are risky habits, and when they occur simultaneously, they can produce life-threatening medical symptoms.

3. Muscle Dysmorphia

Muscle dysmorphia often affects more males than women, in contrast to the majority of eating disorders. An obsessive fixation with muscles and appearance, which is disruptive, is a feature of the illness. The person will become fixated with developing the "ideal" shape of musculature.

4. Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Episodes of eating excessive amounts of food are a hallmark of BED. When someone eats too much food in a two-hour period, it is referred to as a binge. Binges are accompanied by a trance-like condition, weight gain, and subsequent feelings of regret and humiliation. BED typically does not involve any purging practises, in contrast to bulimia. BED patients are frequently overweight or obese as a result of their binge.

5. Another Known Eating or Feeding Disorder (OSFED)

OSFED is a "catch-all" term for eating disorder kinds that don't fall into the aforementioned headings. Atypical cases of anorexia or bulimia, as well as the following 7 unofficial diagnoses, are frequently classified as having OSFED by doctors and psychologists.

Types of Treatment for Eating Disorders:

"I get up. I check to see if my pelvic bones and thighs rise slightly over my tummy, but they don't—not enough. I already feel bad about myself. This morning's weigh-in will determine my attitude for the day. My happiness is directly reflected in the weight on the scale. Everything that comes after in my connection with food and how I feel about myself will be influenced by it."

Finding the best form of treatment for eating problems can be challenging. A medical doctor, eating disorder therapists, registered dietitians who specialise in eating disorders, and support staff who are knowledgeable about and supportive of the eating disorder programme are all essential components of an effective eating disorder treatment programme. The client is also of utmost importance.

Every type of eating disorder treatment must take into account the client's issues with their connection to food, weight, and body image in addition to any potential medical repercussions that may come along with the particular type of eating disorder. This will enable the entire team to provide the best possible care as each client recovers on their own.

It might be difficult to choose the appropriate method of treatment for eating disorders. An efficient eating disorder treatment programme must include a medical doctor, eating disorder therapists, licenced dietitians who specialise in eating disorders, and support workers who are informed about and supportive of the eating disorder programme. Also of utmost significance is the client.

Every type of eating disorder treatment must consider the patient's problems with their relationship to food, weight, and body image in addition to any possible medical effects that may come along with the specific type of eating disorder. This will make it possible for the entire team to give each client the finest care while they recuperate independently.