08/08/2019
6 Common Types of Eating Disorders (and Their Symptoms)
Some people may see eating disorders as phases, fads or lifestyle choices, but they’re actually serious mental disorders.
They affect people physically, psychologically and socially and can have life-threatening consequences.
In fact, eating disorders are now officially recognized as mental disorders by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
In the US alone, an estimated 20 million women and 10 million men have or have had an eating disorder at some point in their lives (1).
The following article describes 6 of the most common types of eating disorders and their symptoms.
Eating Disorders & How to Cure
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder
Pica
Rumination Disorder
Avoidant & Restrictive Intake Food Disorder
Getting treatment for an eating disorder
While there are a variety of different treatment options available for those struggling with eating disorders, it is important to find the treatment, or combination of treatments, that works best for you.
Effective treatment should address more than just your symptoms and destructive eating habits. It should also address the root causes of the problem—the emotional triggers that lead to disordered eating and your difficulty coping with stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, or other uncomfortable emotions.
Step 1: Assemble your treatment team
Because eating disorders have serious emotional, medical, and nutritional consequences, it’s important to have a team of professionals that can address every aspect of your problem. As you search, focus on finding the right fit—professionals who make you feel comfortable, accepted, and safe.
To find an eating disorder treatment specialist in your area:
Ask your primary care doctor for a referral
Check with your local hospitals or medical centers
Ask your school counselor or nurse
Call a helpline listed in the Resources section below
Step 2: Address health problems
Eating disorders can be deadly—and not just if you’re drastically underweight. Your health may be in danger, even if you only occasionally fast, binge, or purge, so it’s important to get a full medical evaluation. If the evaluation reveals health problems, they should take priority. Nothing is more important than your well-being. If you’re suffering from any life-threatening problem, you may need to be hospitalized in order to keep you safe.
Step 3: Make a long-term treatment plan
Once your health problems are under control, you and your treatment team can work on a long-term recovery plan. Your treatment plan may include:
Individual or group therapy. Therapy can help you explore the issues underlying your eating disorder, improve your self-esteem, and learn healthy ways of responding to stress and emotional pain. Different therapists have different methods, so it is important to discuss with them your goals in working towards recovery.
Family therapy. Family therapy can help you and your family members explore how the eating disorder is affecting your relationships—and how various family dynamics may be contributing to the problem or impeding recovery. Together, you’ll work to improve communication, respect, and support.
Nutritional counseling. The goal of a nutritionist or dietician is to help you incorporate healthy eating behaviors into your everyday life. A nutritionist can’t change your habits overnight, but over a period of time you can learn to develop a healthier relationship with food.
Medical monitoring. Often, treatment will include regular monitoring by a medical doctor to make sure your health is not in danger. This may include regular weigh-ins, blood tests, and other health screenings.
Residential treatment. In rare cases, you may need more support than can be provided on an outpatient basis. Residential treatment programs offer around-the-clock care and monitoring to get you back on track. The goal is to get you stable enough to continue treatment at home.
Step 4: Learn self-help strategies
While seeking professional help is important, don’t underestimate your own role in recovery. The more motivated you are to understand why you developed an eating disorder, and to learn healthier coping skills, the quicker you will see change and healing. The following tips can help:
Self-help tip 1: Learn healthier ways to cope with emotional pain
It may seem like eating disorders are all about food—after all, your rules and fears about dieting and weight have taken over your life. But food itself isn’t the real problem. Disordered eating is a coping mechanism for stress or other unpleasant emotions. You may refuse food to feel in control, binge for comfort, or purge to punish yourself, for example. But whatever need your eating disorder fulfills in your life, you can learn healthier ways to cope with negative emotions and deal with life’s challenges.
The first step is figuring out what’s really going on inside. Are you upset about something? Depressed? Stressed out? Lonely? Is there an intense feeling you’re trying to avoid? Are you eating to calm down, comfort yourself, or to relieve boredom? Once you identify the emotion you’re experiencing, you can choose a positive alternative to starving or stuffing yourself.
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