3 Common Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and body types. While only a qualified healthcare professional can diagnose an eating disorder, understanding some of the more common types and their symptoms can help you recognize when it may be time to seek support. According to statistics published by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), approximately 9% of the U.S. population (28.8 million people) will experience an eating disorder at some point during their lives. Below, we discuss three of the most common eating disorders.
1. Anorexia Nervosa
Commonly referred to simply as “anorexia,” anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that causes someone to have a distorted perception of their own weight. Because they fear gaining weight, people with this condition tend to severely restrict how much food they eat, essentially starving themselves. They may also exercise excessively.
2. Bulimia Nervosa
This eating disorder causes someone to eat a large amount of food in a short amount of time, then try to get rid of the excess calories in an unhealthy way (for example, by vomiting, taking laxatives, or using enemas). This cycle is referred to as “binging and purging.”
3. Binge-Eating Disorder
Binge-eating disorder causes someone to regularly consume abnormally large amounts of food. People with this condition often report feeling like they’ve lost control and can’t make themselves stop eating.
Get the Help You Need
If you're struggling with your relationship with food, eating, or your body, you don't have to navigate those concerns alone. Therapy can provide a supportive space to explore disordered eating and body image concerns, understand patterns that may be affecting your well-being, and develop a healthier relationship with yourself.
Eating disorders can also require specialized medical, nutritional, and mental health treatment. If you believe you may have an eating disorder, it's important to seek an evaluation from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
