We often hear of the term “eating disorders”. Whether you see the term “eating disorders” in the media or know a friend struggling with an eating disorder, this blog is designed to help educate you about eating disorders, what they are, their symptoms, and the types of eating disorders there are.
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and contains discussions of eating disorders. If this may upset you, please click away.

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can affect both physical and mental health. There are different kinds of eating disorders but all of which can include problems with food, eating, body image and weight, and/or eating behaviors. An eating disorder can cause symptoms that affect health and mental well-being, sometimes even making it difficult to perform daily life functions. Eating disorders can become long-term problems, leading to dangerous eating behaviors that can affect health including the bones, teeth, heart, and mouth. Eating disorders are also linked to anxiety, depression, and suicide. However, with the proper help and treatment, recovery is possible!

2. Types & Symptoms

The symptoms of an eating disorder vary depending on the type of disorder. It is important to note that a common misconception is that people with eating disorders must look a certain way. However, this is false and harmful and can prevent individuals from getting the support they need. People with eating disorders can have all different body types and sizes. The types of eating disorders and their symptoms include:

1. Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia, also referred to as anorexia nervosa, can be a life threatening disorder. It is typically characterised by an intense fear of body weight which includes extreme efforts to lose weight such as restricting food, limiting calories, or using excessive diet aids. This can interfere with daily life and affect an individual's ability to function.

2. Bulimia Nervosa

Also referred to as bulimia nervosa, bulimia is also a serious health disorder than affect health. Bulimia is characterised by episodes of binging (eating large amounts of foods in a short period of time) and purging. Sometimes bulimia also includes limiting eating for periods of time. When individuals binge, they might feel like they have no control over their eating, leading to feelings of shame, guilt, or an intense fear of gaining weight. This leads to purging. Purging can include vomiting, excessive exercise, restricting food, or taking unnecessary medication to lose weight. Bulimia also involves excessive thoughts about weight and body shape, with harsh thoughts of personal appearance

3. Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder involves eating a large amount of food in a short period of time. Even when not hungry, while binging, people may continue past feeling uncomfortably full. After a Binge, individuals may feel guilt, disgust, or shame. They may limit eating periods as a result of fear of gaining weight leading to increased urges of binging, setting up an unhealthy cycle of binging and restricting

4. ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

ARFID is characterized by extreme limitation of eating or not eating certain foods. The eating pattern with ARFID does not meet the minimum daily nutrition needs, which may lead to problems in growth, development, and functioning problems. Unlike other EDs mentioned above, individuals with ARFID don't fear weight gain or body size. Instead, they may restrict eating because they avoid foods with certain colors, textures, smells, and tastes. They may also worry about choking, vomiting, or stomach problems when eating which leads to restriction.

If you worry that you may have an eating disorder or notice that your eating behaviors distress or affect your life or health it is important that you seek professional mental/medical help. Eating disorders can seriously affect health and well-being but an early diagnosis ensures faster and smoother recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with eating disorders, seek medical help immediately. There are also several resources about eating disorders that may be useful:
https://anad.org/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/in-depth/eating-disorder-treatment/art-20046234

https://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/support-groups

If you want to support a friend struggling with an eating disorder, check out our support others blogs.

3. Eating disorder Awareness Week 2024

Eating disorder Awareness week in 2024 is from February 26 - March 3rd. This year, Beat Eating Disorder Org has highlighted an emphasis on ARFID, an eating disorder that is often overlooked by many. ARFID is less commonly known and is paired with many misconceptions such as “they’re just a picky eater”. However, ARFID is a serious condition that can prevent individuals from getting the nutrients they need.

Over 55% of individuals in the MENA region have reported having a difficult relationship with food or an eating disorder (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1471015324000278?dgcid=rss_sd_all) so awareness must become more prominent.

Bibliography:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1471015324000278?dgcid=rss_sd_all
https://edaw.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353609

What are eating disorders?