Eating disorders are a serious physical and mental health concern. Anyone may struggle with disordered eating, and it may be difficult to identify. Recovery from eating disorders is possible. Below, we provide a summary of several eating disorders.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia involves restricting the intake of food (or certain types of food) and may include other behaviors intended to compensate for eating such as excessive exercise, fasting, vomiting, or using laxatives. People struggling with anorexia are often very concerned about their weight and food intake regardless of if they are dangerously malnourished or underweight. Anorexia can be fatal. Other health consequences can include damage to throat and teeth from vomiting, bone thinning, brittleness of hair and nails, physical weakness and fatigue, and infertility.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia involves cycles of bingeing (intaking large amounts of food) followed by purging or other behaviors intended to compensate for the binging (vomiting, using laxatives, excessive exercise, fasting, etc.). Bingeing is often kept secret from others. Health consequences can include damage to throat and teeth from vomiting, gastrointestinal problems, and severe dehydration. Nutritional imbalances can cause a stroke or heart attack.
Binge eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder involves intaking large amounts of food. Bingeing may feel uncontrollable and is often done in secret and associated with feelings of shame. Binge eating disorder is different from bulimia in that bingeing is not followed by purging behaviors.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
ARFID involves a limited intake of food due to disinterest or anxieties about food or eating, and is not associated with concerns about body-image. Health consequences of ARFID may include lack of necessary nutrition, unintentionally losing weight, fatigue, stomach pain, and social isolation due to food limitations.
Pica
Pica is characterized by eating things that are not food, and some cases of pica may indicate a nutritional deficiency. Common items consumed include dirt, paper, chalk, hair, and baby powder.
Orthorexia
People struggling with orthorexia are focused on the “purity” of the food they eat. They may go to extreme lengths to avoid food that is not perceived as pure (or clean, healthy, etc.) or feel very guilty about eating the “wrong” foods. This can result in lack of necessary nutrition and possible social isolation due to food restrictions.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic. (2022, May 6). Pica. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22944-pica
Horovitz, O., & Argyrides, M. (2023). Orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa: A comprehensive examination of prevalence, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. Nutrients, 15(17), 3851. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15173851
Mayo Clinic. (2023, March 28). Eating disorders. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-
disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20353603
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Eating disorders: About more than food. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024, January). Eating disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders