Eating disorders are a group of complex mental health conditions described in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). A person who is dealing with these issues will notice a change in their eating habits. The distress, however, is not limited to food and eating. The individual may also be concerned about their body image and weight.
Eating disorders can cause a variety of symptoms, including binge eating, food restriction, compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, and even the consumption of non-food items. This can result in a number of health complications as well as severe nutritional deficiencies. A person experiencing such severe distress may also struggle to cope in other areas of life. Eating disorders frequently co-occur with other mental health conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, suicidal ideations, and so on. If the symptoms and associated concerns are not treated, they can be fatal to the person experiencing them.
Each eating disorder has distinct characteristics and diagnostic criteria. Here are the three most common eating disorders that people struggle with:
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is one of the most recently recognized and prevalent conditions characterized by excessive food consumption. Such episodes occur on a regular basis and are accompanied by a sense of loss of control.
- Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is also characterized by recurrent binge eating episodes. However, it is followed by compensatory behaviors such as laxative use, vomiting, excessive exercise, and so on.
- Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is marked by a restriction in food consumption, often to the point of starvation. This is frequently accompanied by a fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image.
In addition to these, the DSM-V includes PICA, Rumination Disorder, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED) in this category.
It is important to note that simply eating a lot of food at a social event, working out a little extra to burn off the holiday calories, fasting for spiritual reasons, or other similar behaviors may not indicate that a person has an eating disorder. Aside from the visible and defining features, a person must meet many more criteria to be diagnosed with an eating disorder. While it is important to maintain one's physical and emotional health, self-diagnosis can cause additional stress. Because the symptoms of eating disorders extend beyond the emotional distress that an individual may experience, diagnosis and treatment often require the collaboration of physical and mental health care providers.
Many times, a person struggling with an eating disorder is unable to recognize or accept that they are going through a problem. Despite this acknowledgement, some people may be unable to care for themselves during the treatment process due to physical health issues. Therefore, assistance from family members, friends, and other caregivers greatly aids a person's recovery.Seeking help can take a lot of courage, but help is available in the form of mental health professionals. It is possible to recover.