Eating is a natural and healthy way to take care of yourself. However, many people with eating disorders reject this idea. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. They are typically characterized by abnormal behaviors that affect the body’s ability to function properly. Although some people suffer from eating disorders because they are not able to control their food intake or not satisfied with the amount of food consumed, other people may have body image issues and or cultural norms that impact their potential for developing an eating disorder.
Here are some of the most common eating disorders.
1. Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where a person refuses to maintain healthy body weight. They constantly diet and exercise to lose weight, when in fact they are already at an underweight level. People suffering from this disorder have low body image issues and think that they are overweight even when they are not. This results in them drawing away from food for fear of gaining weight or purging after eating foods because it makes them feel bad about what they just ate.
2. Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that can be divided into categories. When a person suffering from bulimia eats too much food, the person may eat and then purge by vomiting or using laxatives. They then go back on a diet or try to make up for what they just ate by fasting. The cycle goes on this way until the individual develops a psychological addiction to purging after eating as well as exercising excessively in advance of purging.
3. Binge-eating disorder
Binge-eating disorder is a condition in which someone eats an unusually large amount of food and drinks a lot of liquid in one setting. This can lead to symptoms such as weight loss, bulimia, vomiting, or both. It is often connected to substance abuse.
Eating disorders are not always obvious. Many people suffering from these disorders do not have any physical signs. If you or someone you know is having an eating disorder, there are many ways to address the problem and take care of yourself. Tell your doctor and a counselor about your eating habits if they are out of control and need to be addressed.
