What Are the Different Types of Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are classified according to the eating behavior such as limiting or exceeding the amount of food eaten, unhealthy purging of the eaten food, or the combination of both. The different types of eating disorders are:

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
• PICA
• Rumination Disorder
• Orthorexia Nervosa
• Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

1. What Is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors in response to difficult situations and emotions.

Eating disorders can affect all ages, genders, ethnicities, or backgrounds.

It is estimated that 9% of the world population have eating disorders and that  9% of the US population will have an eating disorder during their lifetime [1][2].

2. Types of Eating Disorders

2.1. What Is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa or anorexia is a serious mental illness characterized by self-imposed food limitation, loss of weight, and an incorrect interpretation of body appearance associated with an overwhelming desire to be thin.

Anorexia is associated with physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms.

2.1.1. What Are the Physical Symptoms of Anorexia?

The self-imposed food limitation can have severe effects on tissues and organs of the body which manifest with the following symptoms:

• Weight loss
• Sleep disturbance
• Chronic fatigue
• Dizziness
• Loss of muscle strength
• Stomach pain
• Halitosis (bed breath)
• Constipation
• Bloating 
• Feeling cold
• Lanugo (growing of fine white hairs all over the body)
• Hair loss
• Oedema (Swelling of feet, hands, or face)
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Irregular or absence of menstruation (amenorrhea)

2.1.2. What Are the Psychological Symptoms of Anorexia?

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Self-embarrassment or body shame
• Mood swings
• Low self-esteem and confidence
• Lack of focus
• Social emotional impairment
• Emotional dysfunction
• Excessive focus on body weight
• Denial of the severity of the illness

2.1.3. What Are the Behavioral Symptoms of Anorexia?

• Distorted perception of the body’s appearance
• Self-harming
• Isolation or solitude
• Excessive exercise
• Purging
• Missing meals
• Avoiding eating in the company of others
• Irritability
• Loss of libido

2.2. What Is Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa or bulimia is a serious mental illness characterized by binge eating followed by purging, fasting, or excessive exercise to try to compensate for overeating.

Bulimia is associated with physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms.

2.2.1. What Are the Physical Symptoms of Bulimia?

Binge eating followed by purging can result in the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Bloating
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Oedema (Swelling of feet, hands)
• Poor skin condition
• Inflammation of the oesophagus
• Damaged teeth
• Amenorrhea
• Palpitations
• Swollen salivary glands
• Hypotension
• Imbalance in electrolytes
• Stomach problems 
• High and low blood sugar swings
• Regular changes in weight

2.2.2. What Are the Psychological Symptoms of Bulimia?

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Obsession with food
• Difficulty focusing
• Low self-esteem and confidence
• Feeling anxious and tense around mealtimes or when eating in company eating of others
• Worries about weight and body appearance
• Fear of gaining weight
• Sense of loss of control overeating
• Self-embarrassment or body shame after bingeing and purging 
• Distorted perception of body weight and appearance

2.2.3. What Are the Behavioral Symptoms of Bulimia?

• Constant checking of their body weight and appearance or avoiding looking at their body or checking their weight.
• Comparing their body with others’ bodies
• Binge eating
• Over-shopping, -eating, and purging behaviour
• Hoarding food
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Solitude
• Laxatives and diuretics misuse
• Alcohol misuse
• Self-harm
• Isolation after a meal for purging
• Excessive exercising 
• Loss of libido
• Suicidal tendencies

2.3. What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious mental illness characterized by uncontrollable binge eating over a short period of time but without purging.

Binge eating disorder is associated with physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms.

2.3.1. What Are the Physical Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder?

The uncontrollable binge eating manifests with the following physical symptoms:

• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Weight gain
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Other stomach problems
• Poor skin condition

2.3.2. What Are the Psychological Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder?

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Obsession with food
• Uncontrollable overeating habit
• Feeling uncomfortable overeating in front of others
• Low confidence and self-esteem
• Self-embarrassment and guilt after bingeing

2.3.3. What Are the Behavioral Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder?

• Stockpiling food
• Eating large quantities of food and in a short period of time
• Eating without feeling hungry
• Eating until uncomfortably full
• Avoiding eating around others
• Solitude
• Irritability
• Mood swings

2.4. What Is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)?

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a serious mental illness characterized by a selective and narrow consumption of certain types of food only (e.g., avoiding eating fruit and vegetables) [3].

2.4.1. What Are the Symptoms of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)?

ARFID may manifest with the following symptoms:

• Picky eating
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Weight loss
• Amenorrhea
• Bradycardia
• Growth anomalies
• Gastrointestinal dysfunction and pain

2.5. What Is PICA?

PICA is a disorder characterized by craving or eating substances that are not food such as paper, chalk, soap, paint, or drywall. The consumption of toxic and harmful substances may lead to physical illness, such as intoxications or poisoning.

2.6. What Is Rumination Disorder?

Rumination disorder is characterized by the regurgitation of undigested food due to the involuntary contraction of abdominal muscles.

This regurgitation is different from vomiting as it occurs without effort, is painless, and without nausea or disgust.

2.4.1. What Are the Symptoms of Rumination Disorder?

In addition to food regurgitation, rumination disorder may manifest with the following symptoms [4]:

• Weight loss
• Malnutrition
• Irritability
• Avoiding eating in company of others
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Bloating
• Nausea after regurgitating
• Dental decay

2.7. What Is Orthorexia Nervosa?

Orthorexia Nervosa or orthorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an obsession with eating healthy food. However, what is considered healthy food for an individual may be different for another individual.

Orthorexia is associated with physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms.

2.7.1. What Are the Physical Symptoms of Orthorexia?

The physical symptoms can be due to a diet that does not involve essential nutrients resulting in the following symptoms:

• Malnutrition
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Feeling cold

2.7.2. What Are the Psychological Symptoms of Orthorexia?

• Obsession with eating healthy
• Feeling guilt after eating food that is considered unhealthy by the affected individual
• Unshaken believe that avoiding certain foods can prevent diseases and improve well-being.
• Anxiety
• Depression

2.7.3. What Are the Behavioral Symptoms of Orthorexia?

• Moral judgment of others based on dietary choices
• Difficulty with relationships
• Poor focus
• Excessive preoccupation with diet resulting in cutting out many groups of food.

2.8. What Is Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)?

OSFED is an eating disorder whose physical, psychological, or behavioral symptoms do not much those of other eating disorders.

OSFED may manifest with the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Solitude
• Low confidence and self-esteem
• Being uncomfortable eating around others
• Anxiety
• Overly focused on and/or secretive behaviour around food
• Poor body image
• Irritability and mood swings
• Social withdrawal
• Feelings of shame, guilt, and anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating

4. What Are the Long-term Effects of Eating Disorders?

The long-term effects depend on the type of eating disorder. Anorexia may lead to infertility, heart diseases, organ damage (e.g., kidney or liver), osteoporosis, weakening of the immune system, and erosion of tooth enamel.

Bulimia can lead to damage of the kidney, stomach, and intestines, damage to the teeth, vocal cords, and throat, and an increased risk of heart problems.

Binge eating can lead to obesity, type2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, infertility, arthritis, sleep apnea, and damage to the esophagus and stomach.

Conclusion

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can have severe consequences on the health and well-being of the affected individuals.

The causes of eating disorders can be due to factors such as genetics, environmental, social, and even the media.

The treatment of eating disorders may involve lifestyle changes, medication, or cognitive behavioral therapy.