About Eating Disorders and Identifying Them 

A person who suffers from an eating disorder sees his/her body differently than how it is. For example, they may be perfectly healthy and fit but see themselves as overweight. Depending on the type of disorder they have, people start to change their eating and exercise habits, and can suffer from depression, anxiety, or substance use.  

Eating disorders are very common and affect approximately 30 million people in the United States. This is why it is very important to know about these disorders and it warning signs. Here are the description to 3 of the most common eating disorders and how to identify them 

Anorexia Nervosa 

With anorexia nervosa people usually start: dieting, fasting, over-exercising, taking diet pills, diuretics, laxatives and vomiting. It’s usually women who get anorexia, but men can also suffer from it.  

Characteristics: 

• Constantly saying that they are not comfortable with their body and how they look. 
• Maintaining a bodyweight that is at least 15 percent below the nation average for their age and height. 
• With women, missing at least 3 menstrual cycles in a row. 
• Intense fear of gaining weight or looking fat. 

Bulimia Nervosa 

People with bulimia nervosa usually eat unusually large amounts of foods and then throw up, fast, or exercise excessively.  

Characteristics: 

• Over-thinking of self-image, body shape and/or weight. 

• Episodes of uncontrolled eating that occur at least two times a week for up to three months or longer. 

Binge Eating Disorder 

Those who have a binge eating disorder eat unusually large amounts of food in a short period of time. They do not throw up or use extreme weight loss strategies, but after eating they may feel disgusted, ashamed or guilty for eating so much. This then stimulates their depression. 

Characteristics of binge eating disorder include: 

• Continuous weight gain. 
• Eating in secret and then feeling ashamed when a loved one finds out. 
• Intense satisfaction when eating followed by guilt and mood swings. 
• Episodes happen two times a week for six months or more.  

Written by: Vivian Daher 

Howard, C. (2018, May 10). 3 Common Types of Eating Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/external/2018/05/3-common-types-of-eating-disorders/