Different Types of Eating Disorders and Treatment

Eating disorders are serious and sometimes fatal disorders that are often kept hidden from others and involve a severe disturbance to eating behaviors. Often people are not even honest with their counselors about these eating behaviors, and so various types of eating disorders are often untreated.

The average age of onset is twenty-one years old for Binge Eating Disorder and eighteen years old for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Women are much more likely to develop eating disorders than men, but the number of men is on the rise.

The prevalence of each type varies, and many underlying issues could lead to eating disorders. Some of those issues could be low self-esteem or poor body image, body dysmorphia, peer pressure, depression, anxiety, other mental disorders, need for control, need for comfort, impulsive behaviors, trauma, and addiction.

People with eating disorders are often skilled liars, and they know how to manipulate a situation to look a certain way so that others will not pick up on their negative eating patterns. This is one of the reasons why they are difficult to diagnose and treat. When their behaviors are noticed, they will give other reasons for their behavior, indicating that there is a strong sense of shame that accompanies eating disorders.

Types of Eating Disorders

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge Eating Disorder is a serious disorder in which a person repeatedly overeats in a short amount of time but does not follow with purging or other similar behaviors. The prevalence of Binge Eating Disorder has grown over the years but remains about 1-5% of the population, and it is twice as high among females.

Signs, Symptoms, and Complications:

• Persistent and rapid overeating
• A feeling of no control over one’s eating
• Distress over bingeing behaviors
• Purging behaviors not present
• Symptoms of depression
• Weight gain
• Heart issues and high blood pressure
• Some symptoms of anxiety

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa (often called Anorexia) is a dangerous and life-threatening disorder in which a person starves himself or herself to the point of extreme weight loss. Anorexia is much more common among females, as well.

Signs, Symptoms, and Complications:

• Extreme food restriction leading to low body weight compared to others the same age, sex, stage of development, and with similar physical health.
• Persistent and irrational fear of becoming fat or gaining weight
• Restricting food intake or binge eating and purging
• Distorted view of one’s body
• Recurring behaviors to prevent weight gain, like excessive exercise or fasting too often.
• Low body weight
• Some symptoms of depression
• Some symptoms of anxiety
• Some symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, specifically regarding food
• Lack of development in puberty
• Inability to think clearly and other cognitive impairment
• Heart/ blood pressure issues
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Menstrual abnormalities
• Abnormal BMI

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa (often called Bulimia) is also a serious and sometimes life-threatening disorder in which a person is in a cycle of binge-eating followed behaviors like self-induced vomiting to “reverse” or “compensate” for bingeing. Often the goal is to keep the weight in control. Anywhere from 1-3% of the population struggles with Bulimia, and it is five times more likely in females.

Signs, Symptoms, and Complications:

• Persistent intake of large amounts of food
• Guilt or a feeling that the eating behaviors were out of control
• Persistent purging behaviors to remove the food from the body including vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, and other medications, extreme fasting, or excessive exercise.
• A cycle of bingeing and purging happening at least once per week
• Distorted view of one’s body
• Inability to think clearly and other cognitive impairment
• Some symptoms of Depression, especially the risk of suicide
• Somewhat normal BMI
• Difficulties with esophagus and gastrointestinal issues
• Menstrual abnormalities and infertility
• Complications with births
• Dental issues
• Heart Issues
• Some symptoms of anxiety

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Avoidant/ Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is not as commonly discussed as the previous types, but it is also serious and should not be ignored. It involves serious issues with eating that leads to significant weight loss and other issues.

Signs, Symptoms, and Complications:

• Eating issues that could include lack of interest in eating, excessive concern about the effects of eating, and avoidance of food due to sensory issues. They do not include those with a lack of food.
• Regular nutrition deficiencies and low energy
• Distorted perception of one’s body
• Excessive weight loss and restrictive eating
• At times, a conditioned response to eating like vomiting
• Emotional and psychological issues
• Some complications similar to Anorexia Nervosa

It is not hard to see that eating disorders are serious and most often require treatment. It is best to find a counselor who specializes in or has been trained in eating disorder assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

More importantly, it is crucial to find someone who feels safe and trustworthy so that it is easy to be honest about eating struggles. Different professionals will be appropriate for different stages of recovery from eating disorders.

Because of the physical and psychological effects of eating disorders, treatment may involve counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, nutritionists, and many other medical personnel. Though every professional will approach treatment differently.

Treatment Options

Intensive Outpatient / Outpatient

A patient is stable to not be medically monitored and can function well enough to make progress in recovery. Recovery at this stage may involve appointments several times a week and/or groups multiple times a week. This amount gradually decreases as the person moves through recovery.

Partial Hospitalization

A patient’s eating disorder impairs her functioning, though she is not at immediate risk, and she still needs daily monitoring. A patient is still unable to function at a normal level and is daily bingeing, purging, etc.

Residential

A patient does not require any medical treatment but is still psychologically unable to return to normal living. This person would work with mental health professionals to make progress.

Inpatient

A patient is medically and psychologically unstable and requires constant monitoring and intensive care. There will be many professionals working with a patient at this stage until the patient is stable enough to be discharged for the next phases of treatment. A patient will never be discharged if medically unwell, so this will be the main priority in an inpatient situation.

Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders

This article will not discuss each of these types of therapy in-depth, but therapy will focus on a few main things: helping a patient understand her thought patterns and be able to find healthier patterns, work through any past hurt, practice mindfulness, understand her values and live by them, learn and implement better coping methods, and grow in love and acceptance of self. This may be done in a group, individual, or a family setting if appropriate (as in the case of minors). Here are some of the types of therapy used to treat eating disorders:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Enhanced Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Narrative Therapy
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
• Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• EMDR
• Family Therapies

Unless following a strict curriculum, most counselors will use a combination of these therapies in practice, tailoring it to the needs of the patient. The most important thing that counselors want their patients to know is that they are loved, valued, worthy, and acceptable just as they are. They want them to come to accept their bodies and move forward in health.

If any of this resonates with you or if you know someone who struggles with the listed symptoms, do not hesitate to show her you care. Then do the right thing and seek out help. If the situation is severe, and the person has stopped functioning, bring her to the hospital immediately.

If the situation seems better managed, help her find a counselor. Treatment may feel scary, but not as scary as the possible outcomes of spiraling eating disorders. Do not wait to get help. Your life could depend on it.