Eating disorders involve a complex and damaging relationship with food, eating, exercise, and body image. There are a variety of eating disorders and not all treatment is the same. Eating disorders can present in diverse ways, it may not always be obvious that someone is struggling.
There is not necessarily one single cause for an eating disorder. Typically they start unnoticed and then the urge for the behavior becomes more compelling and may become noticeable by others. Signs that may arise include dramatic weight loss or refusing to eat, rigid routines around food or exercise, and frequent or extended trips to the bathroom. Biology, lack of nutrition, brain chemistry, and societal pressure (ie. culture, family or social media) may also increase the risk.
Types of Eating Disorders
- Anorexia: An extreme obsession with weight loss or exercise which may include voluntary starvation or overexercising. Behavioral signs can present with extreme dieting, obsessive food rituals, and secretive antisocial behavior.
- Bulimia: Cycles of binge-eating excessive amounts of food, followed by purging (self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, fasting or overexercising). Signs may include unusual eating behaviors, constant weight fluctuations, frequent use of the bathroom and avoidance of social events.
- Binge Eating: Recurrent episodes of extreme overeating with no compensatory behavior. A person could eat more rapidly than normal and may not stop until feeling uncomfortably full. One could consume food with or without being hungry, and often eats alone. These behaviors must occur at least 2 days a week for 6 months or more to be considered binge eating.
- Pica: Eating one or more non-nutritious, nonfood materials on a regular basis, for example this could include paper, chalk, or hair.
- Rumination disorder: Behavior that includes repeated regurgitation of food after eating that is to be spit out or swallowed again.
- Avoidant/Restrictive food intake: Avoidance or restriction of food. The individual may be uninterested in food or trying to avoid a negative experience in the past due to unpleasant sensory characteristics.
Treatments
Treatment may vary for each individual. It is important to find a treatment journey that is best for the individual. These may include cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, nutrition education and management, and family-based therapies. Some treatments may take place in a specialized eating disorder center, often an inpatient treatment approach. There are also mental health professionals who specialize in eating disorder who can provide outpatient care.
