Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

Individuals with anorexia avoid, severely restrict, or only eat small amounts of food. Those with anorexia are often underweight, but may still seem themselves as overweight. Due to the low nutrition intake, anorexia may cause very dangerous health complications if left untreated.

Symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:

• Highly restricted eating
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Relentless pursuit to lose weight
• Distorted body image

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa causes individuals to engage in a recurrent cycle of binge eating and then purging to compensate for the excess calories. This disorder can begin to control many aspects of one’s life, as well as cause serious health effects.

Symptoms bulimia nervosa include:

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating
• Feeling a lack of control
• Preoccupation with one’s own body shape and weight
• Using laxatives after eating when they’re not needed
• Forced vomiting in fear of gaining weight
• Excessive exercise to prevent weight gain

Binge eating disorder

Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States (NEDA). Individuals with this condition experience a loss of control over their eating and have recurrent episodes of eating large amounts. Unlike with bulimia nervosa, those with BED do not purge, excessively exercise, or try to compensate in other ways for the calories consumed. As a result of the condition, many individuals with binge-eating disorder are overweight.

Symptoms binge eating disorder include:

• Eating large amounts of food within a specific time period (i.e. 1 hour)
• Feeling a lack of control during binge episodes
• Eating when full
• Feeling ashamed, guilty, or distressed about eating
• Eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment or judgement

Treatment

Treatment for eating disorders has been proven to be effective for many. There are various ways to treat eating disorders, but treatment plans commonly include a combination of:

• Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
• Nutritional counseling
• Medication

Finding TREATMENT AND RESOURCES

• To learn more about eating disorders, we recommend contacting your health care provider.
• To read more, the following resources are suggested:
  • NAMI: https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Eating-Disorders
  • NIMH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorder
  • NEDA: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/what-are-eating-disorders
  • NEDA Crisis Line: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL)  at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.