Eating Disorders: Types, Causes and Symptoms

Eating disorders are mental health problems that profoundly impact the lives of those who suffer from them. In this article, we explore the different types, their causes and the most common symptoms, seeking to raise awareness of their severity and the importance of a focus on natural health.

Eating disorder.Some people may view eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, etc... as phases, fads or lifestyle choices, but they are actually serious mental disorders. Here we will address the 6 types and their symptoms.

They affect people physically, psychologically and socially and can have fatal consequences.

In fact, eating disorders are now officially recognized as mental disorders by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

In the United States and Europe alone, an estimated 20-18 million women and 10- 5 million men have or have had an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are a series of conditions expressed through abnormal or disturbed eating habits.

These usually stem from an obsession with food, body weight or body shape and often result in serious health consequences. In some cases, eating disorders even result in death.

Individuals with eating disorders may have a variety of symptoms. However, most include severe food restriction, inappropriate purging behaviors such as vomiting or over-exercising.

Although eating disorders can affect people of either sex at any stage of life, they are most frequently reported in adolescents and young women. In fact, up to 13% of young people may experience at least one eating disorder by age 20.

What causes them?

Experts believe that eating disorders can be caused by a variety of factors.

Genetics

Twin and adoption studies, studying twins who were separated at birth and adopted by different families, provide some evidence that eating disorders may be inherited.

This type of research has generally shown that if one twin develops an eating disorder, the second has a 50% chance of developing one as well, on average.

Personality

In particular, neuroticism, perfectionism and impulsivity are three personality traits often linked to an increased risk of developing an eating disorder.

Fashions or cultural preferences

Cultural pressures or fashion which are cultural preferences for thinness and exposure to media that promote such ideals.

In fact, certain eating disorders appear to be largely nonexistent in cultures that have not been exposed to Western ideals of thinness.

That said, culturally accepted ideals of thinness are pervasive in many areas of the industrialized world. However, in other countries with less consumerist cultures, few individuals end up developing an eating disorder.

Brain Biology

More recently, experts have proposed that differences in brain structure and biology may also play a role in the development of eating disorders.

In particular, levels of the brain messengers serotonin and dopamine may be factors.

However, further studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

They are not fads, phases or something someone consciously chooses to take part in.

Types of eating disorders

1. Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is probably the best known eating disorder.

It usually develops during adolescence or adulthood and tends to affect more women than men.

People with anorexia generally see themselves as overweight, even if they are dangerously underweight. They tend to constantly monitor their weight, avoid eating certain types of foods, and severely restrict their calories.

Common symptoms of anorexia nervosa include :

• Being very underweight compared to people of similar age and height.
• Very restricted feeding patterns.
• An intense fear of weight gain or persistent behaviors to avoid weight gain, despite being underweight.
• A relentless pursuit of thinness and an unwillingness to maintain a healthy weight.
• A strong influence of body weight or perceived body shape on self-esteem.
• A distorted body image, including denial of being seriously underweight.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are also frequently present. For example, many people with anorexia are preoccupied with constant thoughts about food, and some may even obsessively collect recipes or store food.

Such individuals may also have difficulty eating in public and have a strong desire to control their environment, limiting their ability to be spontaneous.

Anorexia is officially classified into two subtypes: the restriction type and the binge-purge type. .

People with the restrictive type lose weight only through dieting, fasting or excessive exercise.

People with the binge-purge type may eat large amounts of food or eat very little. In both cases, after eating, they purge using activities such as vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, or excessive exercise.

Anorexia can be very damaging to the body. Over time, people living with it can experience thinning bones, infertility, brittle hair and nails, and the growth of a thin layer of hair all over their body.

In severe cases, anorexia can result in cardiac, cerebral or multi-organ failure and death.

2. Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is another well-known eating disorder.

Like anorexia, bulimia tends to develop during adolescence and early adulthood and appears to be less common among males than females. .

People with bulimia often eat unusually large amounts of food in a relatively short period of time.

Each episode of binge eating usually continues until the person feels painfully full. Moreover, during the episode, the person usually feels that they cannot stop eating or control what they are eating.

Binge eating can happen with any type of food, although it is most likely to occur with foods that the individual would normally avoid.

Individuals with bulimia then attempt to purge to compensate for the calories consumed and relieve intestinal discomfort.

Common purging behaviors include forced vomiting, fasting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas and excessive exercise.

Symptoms may appear very similar to the subtypes of anorexia nervosa. However, people with bulimia usually maintain a relatively normal weight, rather than becoming underweight.

Common symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating, with a sense of lack of control
• Recurrent episodes of inappropriate purging behaviors to prevent weight gain
• Self-esteem strongly influenced by body shape and weight.
• Fear of gaining weight, despite having a normal weight

Side effects of bulimia can include a swollen and sore throat, swollen salivary glands, worn tooth enamel, tooth decay, acid reflux, bowel irritation, severe dehydration and hormonal disturbances.

In severe cases, bulimia can also create an imbalance in the body's levels of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and calcium. This can cause a stroke or heart attack.

3. Compulsive Eating Disorder

Binge eating has recently been officially recognized as an eating disorder.

However, it is now believed to be one of the most common eating disorders, especially in the United States.

Binge eating disorder usually begins during adolescence and early adulthood, although it can also develop later.

Individuals with this disorder have symptoms similar to those of bulimia or the binge-eating subtype of anorexia.

For example, they often eat unusually large amounts of food in relatively short periods of time and usually feel a lack of control during binge eating.

However, unlike the previous two disorders, people with binge eating disorder do not restrict calories or use purging behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise to compensate for their binge eating.

Common symptoms of binge eating disorder include:

• Eating large amounts of food quickly, secretly and until uncomfortably full, despite not feeling hungry.
• Feeling a lack of control during binge eating episodes.
• Feelings of distress, such as shame, disgust or guilt, when thinking about the obsessive behavior.
• There is no use of purging behaviors, such as calorie restriction, vomiting, excessive exercise, or use of laxatives or diuretics, to compensate for binge eating.

People with binge eating disorder are often overweight or obese. This can increase their risk of medical complications related to excess weight, such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

4. Pica or alotrophagia

Pica is another completely new condition that has only recently been recognized as an eating disorder by the DSM.

Individuals with pica crave non-food substances such as ice, dirt, soil, chalk, soap, paper, hair, cloth, wool, pebbles, detergent or cornstarch.

Pica can occur in adults as well as in children and adolescents. That said, this disorder is more common in children, pregnant women and people with mental disabilities.

People with pica may be at an increased risk of poisoning, infections, intestinal injury and nutritional deficiencies. Depending on the substances ingested, pica can be fatal.

However, to be considered pica, the consumption of non-food substances must not be a normal part of someone's culture or religion. In addition, it must not be considered a socially acceptable practice by a person's peers.

5. Rumination Disorder

Rumination disorder is another newly recognized eating disorder.

Describes a condition in which a person regurgitates food that has previously been chewed and swallowed, chews it again, and then either swallows it again or spits it out.

This rumination typically occurs within the first 30 minutes after a meal. Unlike medical conditions, such as reflux, it is voluntary.

This disorder may develop during infancy, childhood or adulthood. In infants, it tends to develop between three and 12 months and often disappears on its own. Children and adults with the condition usually require therapy to resolve it.

If unresolved in infants, rumination disorder can result in weight loss and severe malnutrition that can be fatal.

Adults with this disorder may restrict the amount of food they eat, especially in public. This can lead them to lose weight and become underweight. .

usually regurgitate food they have recently swallowed. They then chew it again and swallow or spit it out.

6. Restrictive food intake disorder

Avoidant or restrictive eating disorder (ARFID) is a new name for an old disorder.

It actually replaces what is known as an «infantile and early childhood eating disorder,» a diagnosis previously reserved for children under seven years of age.

Although ARFID usually develops during infancy or early childhood, it can persist into adulthood. Moreover, it is equally common in males and females.

People with this disorder experience discomfort when eating either because of a lack of interest in eating or an aversion to certain smells, tastes, colors, textures or temperatures.

Common symptoms of ARFID include:

• Avoidance or restriction of food intake that prevents the person from eating enough calories or nutrients.
• Eating habits that interfere with normal social functions, such as eating with others.
• Weight loss or poor development for age and height.
• Nutrient deficiencies or dependence on supplements or tube feeding.

It is important to note that ARFID goes beyond just normal developmental behaviors, such as picky eating in young children or reduced food intake in older adults.

In addition, it does not include the avoidance or restriction of food due to lack of availability or religious or cultural practices.

Other eating disorders

In addition to the six eating disorders mentioned above, there are also lesser known or less common eating disorders. These generally fall under one of three categories :

• Purging disorder:Individuals with this disorder often use purging behaviors, such as vomiting, laxatives, diuretics or excessive exercise, to control their weight or shape. However, they do not binge.
• Night eating syndrome: Individuals with this syndrome frequently eat excessively, often after awakening from sleep.
• Eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS):This includes any other possible condition that has symptoms similar to those of an eating disorder but does not fit into any of the above categories.

One disorder that may currently fall under TANE is orthorexia . Although it is increasingly mentioned in the media and in scientific studies, orthorexia has not yet been officially recognized as an eating disorder by the current DSM.

People with orthorexia nervosa tend to have an obsessive focus on healthy eating, to an extent that disrupts their daily lives.

For example, the affected person may eliminate entire food groups, fearing that they are unhealthy. This can lead to malnutrition, severe weight loss, difficulty eating outside the home, and emotional distress.

Individuals with orthorexia rarely focus on losing weight. Instead, their self-esteem, identity, or satisfaction depends on how well they comply with their self-imposed diet rules.

In a nutshell

The above categories are intended to provide a better understanding of the most common eating disorders and dispel the myths that many people have about them.

Eating disorders are mental disorders with serious physical and emotional consequences. If you have an eating disorder or know someone who might have one, the help of a professional eating disorder counselor, the practice of yoga  or exercise and chiropractic can help restore balance to your life.

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https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

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