What is an Eating Disorder?

Although we call this simply “Eating Disorder”, this is not limited only to food and is a condition consisting of many complex mental conditions.

The American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, has analyzed this in more depth.

Feeding and eating disorders are characterized by persistent disturbances in eating or food-related behaviors that alter food intake or absorption and significantly impair physical health and mental functioning.

According to DSM-5, there are 6 diagnostic criteria such as; pica, anorexia nervosa, rumination disorder, avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder.

These are conditions that can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, at any stage of life. It shows various symptoms and if left untreated, it can become very severe.

6 Common Types of Eating Disorders

01. Pica

Eating non-nutritious or non-food items on a continuous basis, usually for more than a month, is called pica. Non-food items are hair, soap, paper, cloth, wool, soil, chalk, paint, metal, talcum powder, gum, coal or charcoal, clay, starch, etc.

This can occur at any stage of childhood, adolescence or adulthood. But generally, around 2 years of age, during the growth of their teeth, chewing or eating various things should be excluded without applying to this.

Also, it does not include if someone eats non-food items as part of their religious belief or culture. You have seen people in countries like India eating various things for different religious offerings. They are not relevant to this.

Due to this reason, the body does not get essential vitamins, minerals, etc., and various nutritional deficiencies can occur.

Also, pica comes to clinical attention only after reaching the following level of medical complications; mechanical bowel problems, intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, infections such toxocariasis, toxoplasmosis as a result of ingesting feces or dirt, poisoning such as by ingestion of lead-based paint.

02. Anorexia Nervosa

To diagnose this Anorexia Nervosa, there are three main features. This is sometimes seen among many people. This is more common among women than men.

Anorexia means that they restrict their food intake and even essential calories by worrying about their weight. Sometimes, even though they are underweight, they get used to thinking that they are overweight.

The first feature is that individuals tend to maintain their weight below the ideal weight for their age and sex. The BMI index is usually used to find out whether one’s weight is under or over a certain level, or is at a certain weight level.

If you think you are overweight, you can read the article we have already written, “How to lose weight naturally“. It contains about BMI index and much more.

But assessing weight is a rather difficult task, as there is wide variation in weight levels between individuals. Although the BMI index is best used to estimate weight in adults, there are various problems with its use in children and adolescents.

Because they are in a growing stage, it may not be fair to estimate the appropriate weight range they should be in along with the changes in their growth.

For that, the World Health Organization has introduced these charts to understand the weight ranges of girls and boys. (click on ‘girls’ or ‘boys’ to preview that chart). These charts are important for children between the ages of 5 and 19 years.

Similarly, CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) has created a calculator for this purpose. You can use it if you like and understand the weight range you belong to.

The second feature or characteristic is the irrational fear of gaining weight or getting fat. But very young or sometimes adults fail to understand and recognize this fear.

The third feature is the feeling that one’s weight changes and even the shape of the body is distorted. Some people think that they are very heavy and fat. Or some realize that they are thin but their body parts like stomach, butt and thighs are very fat.

People with anorexia nervosa often have self-esteem based on their body weight and shape.

03. Rumination Disorder

The main way to determine this is to regurgitate after eating and chew, spit, or spit out the food over a period of at least one month.

Partially digested food that has already been ingested is taken into the mouth and re-chewed, spit or swallowed without apparent nausea, involuntary retching or disgust.

The onset of rumination disorder can occur in infancy, childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. The age of onset in infants is usually between 3 and 12 months. In infants, the disorder often arises spontaneously, but its course can be prolonged and medical emergencies may occur. It can be fatal, especially in infancy.

04. Avoidant or Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Avoidant or Restrictive Food Intake Disorder was reinstated as an extension of Feeding Disorders of infancy or early childhood in DSM-IV.

Avoidant or Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is any dietary restriction or abstinence that results in insufficient caloric intake or oral intake that fails to meet clinically stated nutritional needs.

Significant weight loss, significant nutritional deficiencies, etc. and accompanying physical and mental impairments and various disorders can be seen.

05. Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa shows mixed features of other forms. Recurrent episodes of binge eating, repetitive inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, and self-esteem that is unduly influenced by body shape and weight. To recognize this, these conditions should occur once a week for three months.

Bulimia Nervosa commonly begins in adolescence or young adulthood. Onset before puberty or after age 40 is uncommon. Experiencing various stressful life events can also trigger the onset of bulimia nervosa.

06. Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is associated with these cases; eating much more rapidly than normal, eating until feel completely uncomfortable, eating large amounts of meals even when not physically hungry, eating alone.

Binge eating is associated with many things including social image adjustment issues, health related quality of life issues, life satisfaction issues, and increased morbidity and mortality.

When you hear eating disorder, you might think it means some eating difficulty. But there was more than you thought. That’s why I mentioned at the beginning that Eating disorders are a complex mental condition.