EATING DISORDERS (2)

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EATING DISORDERS 

​ ~ Ashika Sara Alex 
11-C 

 

INTRODUCTION 

An eating disorder is a mental 
disorder defined by abnormal 
eating habits that negatively 
affect a person's physical 
and/or mental health.They 
include binge eating disorder, 
where people eat a large 
amount in a short period of time; anorexia nervosa, where 
people eat very little due to a fear of gaining weight and thus 
have a low body weight; bulimia nervosa, where people eat a 
lot and then try to rid themselves of the food; pica, where 
people eat non-food items; rumination syndrome, where people 

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regurgitate food; avoidant/ restrictive food intake disorder 
(ARFID), where people have a reduced and selective food 
intake due to some psychological reasons ; and a group of 
other specified feeding​ o​ r eating disorders. Anxiety disorders​ ,​  
depression and substance abuse are common among people 
with eating disorders. These disorders do not include obesity. 

 

The causes of eating disorders 
are not clear, although both 
biological and environmental 
factors appear to play a role. 
Eating disorders affect about 
12 percent of 
dancers.Cultural idealization 
of thinness is believed to contribute to some eating disorders. 
Individuals who have experienced sexual abuse are also more 
likely to develop eating disorders. Some disorders such as pica 
and rumination disorder occur more often in people with 

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intellectual disabilities.​ O​ nly one eating disorder can be 
diagnosed at a given time. 

 

Treatment can be effective for many eating disorders. 
Treatment varies by disorder and may involve counselling, 
dietary advice, reducing excessive exercise and the reduction 
of efforts to eliminate food. Medications may be used to help 
with some of the associated symptoms. Hospitalization may be 
needed in more serious cases.​ ​About 70% of people with 
anorexia and 50% of people with bulimia recover within five 
years.​ R​ ecovery from binge eating disorder is less clear and 
estimated at 20% to 60%.​ ​Both anorexia and bulimia 
increase the risk of death. 

 
 
 
 

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TYPES OF EATING DISORDERS 

1. Anorexia Nervosa 

It generally develops during adolescence 
or young adulthood and tends to affect 
more women than men . P​ eople with 
anorexia generally view themselves as 
overweight, even if they’re 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 considerably underweight compared with people 
of similar age and height 

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❖ very restricted eating patterns 
❖ an intense fear of gaining weight or persistent 

behaviors to avoid gaining weight, despite being 
underweight 
❖ a relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to 
maintain a healthy weight 
❖ a heavy 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 often present. For 
instance, many people with 
anorexia are often preoccupied 

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with constant thoughts about food, and some may obsessively 
collect recipes or hoard food. Such individuals may also have 
difficulty eating in public and exhibit a strong desire to 
control their environment, limiting their ability to be 
spontaneous.  

​Anorexia is officially categorized into two subtypes — the 

restricting type and the binge eating and purging type . 
Individuals with the restricting type lose weight solely 
through dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise. Individuals 
with the binge eating and purging type may binge on large 
amounts of food or eat very little. In both cases, after they 
eat, they purge using activities like vomiting, taking laxatives 
or diuretics, or exercising excessively. 

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Anorexia can be very damaging to the body. Over time, 
individuals living with it may experience the thinning of their 
bones, infertility, brittle hair and nails, and the growth of a 
layer of fine hair all over their body .In severe cases, 
anorexia can result in heart, brain, or multi-organ failure 
and death. 

2. BULIMIA NERVOSA 

Like anorexia, bulimia tends to 
develop during adolescence and early 
adulthood and appears to be less 
common among men than women . 
People with bulimia frequently eat unusually large amounts of 
food in a specific period of time. Each binge eating episode 
usually continues until the person becomes painfully full. 

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During a binge, the person usually feels that they cannot 
stop eating or control how much they are eating. Binges can 
happen with any type of food but most commonly occur with 
foods the individual would normally avoid. Individuals with 
bulimia then attempt to purge to compensate for the calories 
consumed and relieve gut discomfort.Common purging 
behaviors include forced vomiting, fasting, laxatives, diuretics, 
enemas, and excessive exercise. Symptoms may appear very 
similar to those of the binge eating or purging subtypes of 
anorexia nervosa. However, individuals 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 feeling 
of lack of control. 

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❖ Recurrent episodes of inappropriate purging 
behaviors to prevent weight gain 

❖ A self-esteem overly influenced by body shape and 
weight 

❖ A fear of gaining weight, despite having a normal 
weight. 

Side effects of bulimia may include an inflamed and sore 
throat, swollen salivary glands, 
worn tooth enamel, tooth decay, 
acid reflux, irritation of the gut, 
severe dehydration, and hormonal 
disturbances . In severe cases, 
bulimia can also create an 

imbalance in levels of electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, 
and calcium. This can cause a stroke or heart attack. 

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3. BINGE EATING DISORDER 

It typically begins during 
adolescence and early adulthood, 
although it can develop later on. 
Individuals with this disorder have 
symptoms similar to those of bulimia or the binge eating 
subtype of anorexia. For instance, they typically eat unusually 
large amounts of food in relatively short periods of time and 
feel a lack of control during binges. People with binge eating 
disorder do not restrict calories or use purging behaviors, 
such as vomiting or excessive exercise, to compensate for their 
binges. 

Common symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder include : 

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❖ Eating large amounts of foods rapidly, in secret and 
until uncomfortably full, despite not feeling hungry. 

❖ Feeling a lack of control during episodes of binge 
eating. 

❖ Feelings of distress, such as shame, disgust, or guilt, 
when thinking about the binge eating behavior. 

❖ No use of purging behaviors, such as calorie 
restriction, vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative or 
diuretic use, to compensate for the binging. 

People with binge eating disorder often 
have overweight or obesity. This may 
increase their risk of medical 
complications linked to excess weight, 
such as heart disease, stroke, and type 
2 diabetes . 

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4. PICA 

Individuals with pica crave 
non-food substances, such as ice, 
dirt, soil, chalk, soap, paper, hair, 
cloth, wool, pebbles, laundry 
detergent, or cornstarch .Pica can 
occur in adults, as well as children and adolescents. 
That said, this disorder is most frequently observed in 

children, pregnant women, and 
individuals with mental 
disabilities.Individuals with 
pica may be at an increased 
risk of poisoning, infections, gut injuries, and nutritional 
deficiencies. Depending on the substances ingested, pica 

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may be fatal. H​ owever, to be considered pica, the eating 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 

It describes a condition in which a 
person regurgitates food they have 
previously chewed and swallowed, 
re-chews it, and then either re-swallows 
it or spits it out .This rumination 

typically 
occurs within the first 30 
minutes after a meal. Unlike 

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medical conditions like reflux, it’s voluntary .This disorder 
can develop during infancy, childhood, or adulthood. In 
infants, it tends to develop between 3–12 months of age 
and often disappears on its own. Children and adults 
with the condition usually require therapy to resolve it. 
If not resolved 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 may lead them 
to lose weight and become underweight . 

6. AVOIDANT OR RESTRICTIVE FOOD 
INTAKE DISORDER 

The term replaces what was known as 
a “feeding disorder of infancy and 

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early childhood,” a diagnosis previously reserved for children 
under 7 years old. Although ARFID generally develops during 
infancy or early childhood, it can persist into adulthood. 
What’s more, it’s equally common among men and women. 
Individuals with this disorder experience disturbed eating 
either due to a lack of interest in eating or distaste for 
certain smells, tastes, colors, textures, or temperatures. 

Common symptoms of ARFID include : 

❖ Avoidance or restriction of food intake that 
prevents the person from eating sufficient 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. 

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❖ Nutrient deficiencies or dependence on 
supplements or tube feeding. 

It’s important to note that ARFID goes beyond 
normal behaviors, such as picky eating in 
toddlers or lower food intake in older 
adults. Moreover, it does not include the 
avoidance or restriction of foods due to 

lack of availability or religious or cultural practices. 

7. O​ ther Eating Disorders 

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

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❖ Purging disorder: Individuals with 
purging disorder often use purging 
behaviors, such as vomiting, 
laxatives, diuretics, or excessive 
exercising, 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. 

❖ Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED). 
While not found in the DSM-5, this includes any other 
conditions that have 
symptoms similar to those of 
an eating disorder but don’t 

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fit into any of the categories above.One disorder that 
may currently fall under OSFED is orthorexia. Although 
increasingly mentioned in the media and scientific 
studies, orthorexia has yet to be recognized as a 
separate eating disorder by the current DSM. 
Individuals with orthorexia tend to have an obsessive 
focus on healthy eating, to an extent that disrupts their 
daily lives. For instance, the affected person may 
eliminate entire food groups, fearing they’re 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-worth, identity, or 
satisfaction is dependent upon how well they comply with 
their self-imposed diet rules . 

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CAUSES 

Experts believe that eating disorders may be caused by a 
variety of factors. One of these is genetics. Twin and 
adoption studies involving twins who were separated at birth 
and adopted by different families provide some evidence that 
eating disorders may be hereditary. This type of research 
has generally shown that if one twin develops an eating 
disorder, the other has a 50% likelihood of developing one too. 
Personality traits are another cause. In particular, 
neuroticism, perfectionism, and impulsivity are three 
personality traits often linked to a higher risk of developing 
an eating disorder .Other potential causes include perceived 
pressures to be thin, cultural preferences for thinness, and 
exposure to media promoting such ideals. 

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PREVENTION 

❖ Emotional Bites: a simple way to discuss emotional eating 
is to ask children about why they might eat besides 
being hungry. Talk about more effective ways to cope 
with emotions, emphasizing the value of sharing feelings 
with a trusted adult. 

❖ Say No to Teasing: another concept is to emphasize 
that it is wrong to say hurtful things about other 
people's body sizes. 

❖ Body Talk: emphasize the importance of listening to 
one's body. That is, eating when you are hungry (not 

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starving) and stopping when you are satisfied (not 
stuffed). Children intuitively grasp these concepts. 
❖ Fitness Comes in All Sizes: educate children about the 
genetics of body size and the normal changes occurring 
in the body. Discuss their fears and hopes about 
growing bigger. Focus on fitness and a balanced diet. 

TREATMENT 

Treatment varies according to type 
and severity of eating disorder, and 
usually more than one treatment 
option is utilized. Family doctors 
play an important role in early 
treatment of people with eating disorders by encouraging 
those who are also reluctant to see a psychiatrist. 
Treatment can take place in a variety of different settings 

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such as community programs, hospitals, day programs, and 
groups. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) 
recommends a team approach to treatment of eating 
disorders. The members of the team are usually a 
psychiatrist, therapist, and registered dietitian, but other 
clinicians may be included. 
 
Some examples are: 

● Interpersonal psychotherapy​ (IPT) 
● Cognitive Emotional Behaviour Therapy​ (CEBT) 
● Art therapy 
● Nutrition counseling​ a​ nd ​Medical nutrition therapy​... 

 

 

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Conclusion 

We should try our best to take care of 
our body, and start loving our bodies 
and stop listening to society. Society is 
always going to body shame you no 
matter how you look. We have to start 
promoting and spread awareness on all these eating 
disorders, so that people understand the severity of 
these disorders and the type of health issues and mental 
issues this brings on to 
kids, adults and various 
people. Society should 
accept people for who 
they are, not for how 

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they look, and for this, we have to teach them moral 
values on how to respect people and thus it might also 
reduce the number of people affected with eating 
disorders. 
 

THANK YOU 

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