Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa; Bulimia Nervosa; Binge Eating Disorder;
Anorexia Nervosa
Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
To maintain low weight, they restrict the amount of food they eat, may begin with reduction in total number of calories consumed over the course of a day and avoidance of foods that are high in calories
Typically develop a list of “forbidden foods”
Variety of maladaptive or ritualistic eating behaviours may also develop like eating foods in a certain order, dissecting food into small pieces, weighing foods or fluids before consumption
May exercise excessively
May purge - self induced vomiting, laxative abuse of enemas
Also a disturbance in body image - overall dissatisfaction with particular body parts (thighs or hips being bigger than they actually are)
Hypervigilant in assessing their bodies and may employ a variety of methods in their assessments including repeated weighing, measuring body parts, or constant checking their body shape in mirrors or other reflective surfaces
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia
a. Restriction of energy intake relative to requirements, leading to a significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health.
