Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are mental disorders that involve extreme mental preoccupation, disturbing emotions, attitudes, and behaviors involving weight and food. Depending on the severity and duration of the eating disorder, it may be considered a serious mental illness when it meets the diagnostic criteria specified in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and results in significant functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. Some common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and bulimia. A common misconception is that individuals with eating disorders have a particular body habitus (e.g., individuals with anorexia nervosa are thin). However, eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of body size, race/ethnicity, gender, age, or socioeconomic status. Many factors contribute to the development of an eating disorder, such as genes, hormones, co-morbid mental disorders (such as depression or anxiety disorders), social attitudes that promote very thin body types, and diet culture.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which people avoid or severely restrict food.

People with this disorder have an intense fear of weight gain. They may diet, exercise excessively, or compulsively use other methods (e.g., laxatives or diuretics) to lose weight.

Risk factors for anorexia include:

• Being overly concerned about weight and shape
• Having an anxiety disorder or depression
• Having a negative self-image
• Having eating problems during infancy or early childhood
• Internalizing certain social or cultural ideas about health and beauty
• Trying to be perfect or overly focused on rules

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa include:

• Having an intense fear of gaining weight
• Denying the seriousness of food restriction
• Feeling a strong desire to be in control
• Having a distorted sense of body image, and being very focused on body weight or shape

People with anorexia may severely limit the amount of food they eat, or they may eat and then make themselves throw up. Other behaviors include:

• Cutting food into small pieces or moving them around the plate instead of eating
• Exercising all the time, even if they are hurt
• Going to the bathroom right after meals
• Refusing to eat around other people
• Using diet pills, laxatives, or diuretics

Other symptoms of anorexia may include:

• Confused or slow thinking, along with poor memory or judgment
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Dry mouth
• Loss of bone strength, muscle, and body fat
• Fatigue

Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is when a person eats a much larger amount of food in a shorter period of time than they normally would. During binge eating, the person may feel a loss of control.

Signs & Symptoms

A person who binge eats often:

• Eats large quantities of food in one sitting, often secretly
• Feels unable to control their eating behaviors
• Uses food as a coping mechanism in response to traumatic or stressful life events
• Feels shame, embarrassment, or guilt about their eating behaviors

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder in which a person binges on food and feels a loss of control over their eating. The person then uses methods to prevent weight gain, such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or using laxatives, diuretics, or diet pills.

The affected person is usually aware that their eating pattern is abnormal and may feel fear or guilt when they binge and purge.

Signs & Symptoms

People with bulimia often eat large amounts of food, usually in secret. People can feel a lack of control over their eating during these episodes. Eating and binging episodes may occur as often as several times a day for many months or longer.

It is common that binge eating will lead to a feeling of self-disgust, which leads to purging to prevent weight gain, bringing a sense of relief.

Bulimia may include:

• Forcing oneself to vomit
• Excessive exercise
• Using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics (water pills)

People with bulimia often have a distorted view of their body.

Symptoms include:

• Chronically inflamed and sore throat
• Increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth (due to stomach acid when vomiting)
• Severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which can lead to serious health complications such as heart attack or stroke
• Suddenly eating large amounts of food or buying large amounts of food that disappear right away
• Regularly going to the bathroom right after meals

Get Help for Eating Disorders

Eating disorders can be fatal due to various medical complications and the high risk of associated suicide. Treatment plans can include psychotherapy, medical care, nutrition counseling, or medications. Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible.

Learn how to talk about mental health to support a loved one who you think may be experiencing a mental health concern.

Resources

• National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders
• National Institute of Mental Health: Eating Disorders
• Office on Women’s Health: Eating Disorders
• Binge Eating Disorder Fact Sheet (PDF | 89 KB)
• National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health Minute (1 minute, 17 seconds)
• National Alliance for Eating Disorders
• Project HEAL
• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders