Types of Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

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Anorexia nervosa occurs when a person severely restricts food which results in excessive weight loss.

Symptoms Include:

• Refusal to maintain body weight, at or above minimally normal weight for height, body type, age and activity level
• Intense fear of weight gain or being ‘fat’
• Feeling ‘fat’ or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
• Loss of Periods
• Extreme concern with body weight and shape

Bulimia Nervosa

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Bulimia nervosa occurs when a person engages in a cycle of (often secretive) binge-eating followed by vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative abuse etc.

Symptoms Include:

• Repeated episodes of binging and purging
• Feeling out of control
• Purging after a binge
• Frequent Dieting
• Extreme concern with body weight and shape

Binge Eating Disorder

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Binge eating disorder occurs when a person has uncontrolled, impulsive, periods of continuous eating beyond the point of being comfortably full.

There is no purging, but there may be fasting, or repetitive diets, and often feeling of shame and self-hatred after a binge. People with binge eating disorder may struggle with depression, loneliness, and/or anxiety. Their body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.

Other Eating Disorders

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Can include some of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia and/or binge eating disorder. Whilst these behaviours may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally draining.

Some of these conditions include:

• Chewing and spitting food
• Night Eating Syndrome
• Selective Eating Disorder
• Orthorexia (obsession with biologically pure food)
• OSFED (Other specified feeding & Eating Disorders)

For more information on Eating Disorders, click here.