Information About Eating Disorders
What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is a mental health condition which is characterized by an unhealthy relationship with food and which has serious medical consequences for the individual's physical and mental wellbeing. For more information, click here.
How common are eating disorders?
At least 30 million people in the U.S. (of all ages, genders, and ethnicities) have an eating disorder. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. For more information, click here.
Who is affected by eating disorders?
People of all genders, ages, and ethnicities suffer from eating disorders.
13% of women above the age of 50 engage in disordered eating behaviors.
In a study of active military duty personnel, the number of personnel who experience an eating disorder was shown to increase in both men and women over a five year period.
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Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is characterized by extreme weight loss, fear of gaining weight, and restricting food intake. This can also result in dehydration, constipation, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, and (for females) no longer getting your period. Anorexia is a life-threatening condition that can result in serious medical consequences and death. For more information, click here.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia is characterized by episodes of binging and purging/compensating behaviors. Binging is an episode of significantly overeating in a short period of time that is characterized by a sense of lacking control. Purging or compensating behaviors include induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, excessive exercise, and restricting food intake. Bulimia can also result in extreme weight fluctuation and can be potentially life-threatening. For more information, click here.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
BED is characterized by recurrent episodes of binging, i.e. an episode of significantly overeating in a short period of time that is characterized by a sense of lacking control. These episodes of binging occur at least once a week. This can also result in clinical obesity. For more information, click here.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
OSFED, formerly known as Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, is characterized by recurrent eating disorder behaviors that do not fully meet the criteria for another eating disorder diagnosis. This can also result in dangerous health complications and death. For more information, click here.
Disordered Eating
"Disordered eating" refers to a wide range of unhealthy eating behaviors. These can include a preoccupation with weight or dieting, feelings of guilt or shame associated with eating or with certain foods, meal skipping as the result of anxiety about food, and using exercise to compensate for eating. Though this is not a formal diagnosis, assistance from a therapist can help treat these behaviors before they become more serious.
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is a type of feeding or eating disorder that affects both children and adults. It is categorized by an extreme selectiveness in the amount and types of food consumed, resulting in significant medical complications. ARFID also disproportionately affects people with autism spectrum disorder and anxiety disorders. You can find more information here.
Misconceptions About Eating Disorders
Common misconceptions about eating disorders include:
- Eating disorders are the same as dieting. Eating disorders are complex psychiatric conditions that require treatment and can cause serious medical complications.
- Only "white teenage girls" develop eating disorders. Although research shows that eating disorders are more common in females, eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, and races.
- Eating disorders aren't that serious. Eating disorders can be life-threatening conditions that require diagnosis and treatment by a licensed professional. For more information on seeking treatment, click here.
- OSFED, or EDNOS, is less serious than other eating disorders. People diagnosed with OSFED are just as likely to experience hospitalization as the result of their eating disorder; they are also just as likely to die or experience health complications as the result of their eating disorder.