Eating Disorders: Types, Causes, Treatment & Outlook

Eating disorders are conditions that cause a person to have unhealthy thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to food and body image.\\n\\t\\t

Some people with eating disorders severely restrict their food intake (anorexia nervosa), while others eat large amounts of food in a short time (binge eating disorder). They may also vomit, take laxatives, or exercise excessively to try to prevent weight gain after binge eating (bulimia nervosa).\\n\\t\\t

The cause of eating disorders is not clear, but experts believe that it is related to a number of physical, psychological, cultural, and social factors. Eating disorders are most common in teenage girls and young women but can happen to anyone at any age and of any gender.\\n\\t\\t

People who have eating disorders may develop health problems, such as dehydration and malnutrition. Eating disorders also increase a person's risk of other health problems related to malnutrition. These other health problems can include menstrual period changes, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) and, in severe cases, heart and other organ problems.\\n\\t\\t

Eating disorders are treated primarily with counseling. Sometimes medicines also are used.

Binge eating is an eating disorder. People who have it eat large amounts of food in a short time. They binge eat regularly for several months. They may feel out of control and eat until they are painfully full.\\n\\t\\t

Some people who binge have an average weight for their age, height, and sex. But over time, binge eating may cause weight gain. This weight gain can eventually lead to other health problems, such as those that may come with having obesity. People who have binge eating disorder also often have depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions.\\n\\t\\t

Most people who have binge eating disorder need treatment to get better.\\n\\t\\t

Binge eating disorder isn't the same thing as\\n\\t\\t\\tbulimia. Unlike bulimia, if you have binge eating disorder, you don't vomit or try other ways to get rid of calories. But you might try to limit how much food you eat between eating binges.

As a part of the physical exam for eating disorders, a doctor may order certain tests to see whether your body is generally healthy. These may include blood or urine tests to check:

\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Electrolyte levels. Electrolytes are minerals, such as potassium, calcium, and sodium. A severe imbalance of electrolytes can lead to seizures, an irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, and other problems.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Levels of iron, sugar, protein, and fat.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• The function of the kidneys, liver, and thyroid gland.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Levels of certain hormones, such as luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Levels of vitamins and minerals in the body.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t

A doctor may also test whether you have difficulty digesting certain foods, such as milk and dairy products.

Many people struggle with handling their feelings and interactions with someone who has an eating disorder. Counseling can help you learn ways to encourage healthy eating behaviors in family members or other people you are close to who have eating disorders.\\n\\t\\t

Counseling can be a big help to anyone who is supporting a person with an eating disorder. This can mean seeing a counselor alone, as a couple, or as a family. Each person may need reassurance or counseling at different times during the course of the eating disorder.

\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Find a professional counselor you like and trust. Talk openly and honestly. Counseling can help you cope with hard emotions or feelings that might come with supporting someone who has an eating disorder.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Use a counselor to help you work through your concerns and reduce the eating disorder's impact on you, the person with the eating disorder, and others close to the person.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Make time for other important people in your life. Try not to only focus on the person with the eating disorder.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• If the person with the eating disorder is a family member, try using a family therapist. This can help your family members find new ways to support each other and support the person's eating disorder recovery.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t

When you have an eating disorder, it's important to remember to be kind to yourself. You can try some of the following ideas.

\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Pace yourself if you are feeling overwhelmed. Everything you do may take more time and effort.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Do not expect to do all the things you want to do right away.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Choose what is most important and do those things first.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Break larger tasks into smaller ones and do what you can.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Remember that some of your thoughts are part of your condition. These thoughts may include feeling bad about yourself, feeling hopeless, and feeling uncomfortable in your body. Counseling can help you work through your feelings.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Remember that recovery takes time. Your body needs time to adjust. As you begin to eat in a healthier way, you may feel better and have more energy.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Do things you like to do. Find things that make you feel good. For example, some people like to spend time with others or some like quiet time to read.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Don't blame yourself for your condition.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Work as a partner with your health care team.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t

Experts don't know for sure what causes someone to have an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. But certain things put a person at greater risk for getting an eating disorder. Some of these things include:

\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Having a family history of an eating disorder.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Struggling with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, or obsessive behaviors.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Feeling a need to be perfect.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Feeling social or cultural pressure about thinness or weight.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Having a negative body image.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Taking part in sports or activities that encourage thinness. Modeling and dance are examples.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Having a history of physical or sexual abuse.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t

Having risk factors for it doesn't mean a person will get an eating disorder. But knowing some of the things that can add to the risk may help to see signs of an eating disorder early when it is easier to treat.

There is no known way to prevent an eating disorder. But knowing the early signs and seeking treatment right away can help prevent problems caused by an eating disorder. Early treatment may be the best way to prevent it from getting worse.

When someone you care about has an eating disorder such as\\n\\t\\t\\tanorexia,\\n\\t\\t\\tbulimia, or\\n\\t\\t\\tbinge eating\\n\\t\\t\\tand is in treatment, it is important that you show support. Try the following ideas.

\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Show personal support.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Show and state how much you care.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Avoid the temptation to control the person.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Trust that they have developed their own high values, ideals, and standards.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Encourage self-responsibility for their actions, both successes and setbacks.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Offer support during times of discouragement.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Do not urge them to eat or not eat, unless this is part of the plan for treatment.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Avoid comparisons with other people.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Listen to feelings.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Do not be controlled by their behavior.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Remember the big picture. Eating disorders happen for many different reasons. Many people who have an eating disorder come from families in which other members have eating disorders or have other conditions such as depression. This doesn't mean that a family member caused the disorder. It simply means that these conditions seem more likely to happen in that family.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• Avoid guilt and self-blame.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Show support. Say things such as, I can see how hard this is for you. You're doing a good job.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Don't focus attention only on the person who is in treatment. Spend time with other members of your family and your friends.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  • Remind yourself that this can be a long-lasting disorder. It may take time for changes to happen.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t\\t
  \\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t

An eating disorder is a condition that causes some people to have unhealthy thoughts and behaviors about food and body image. People with eating disorders often strongly base how they feel about themselves on how much they weigh and how they look.\\n\\t\\t

Common eating disorders include:

\\n\\t\\t\\t
• \\n\\t\\t\\t\\tAnorexia.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\tPeople with this condition strictly limit how much food they eat. They may have a very low body weight for their age, height, and sex.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• \\n\\t\\t\\t\\tBulimia.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\tPeople with this condition eat a large amount of food in a short time. Then they do something to get rid of the food, like making themselves vomit, so they won't gain weight.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t\\t
• \\n\\t\\t\\t\\tBinge eating disorder, or compulsive overeating.\\n\\t\\t\\t\\tPeople with this condition eat a large amount of food in a short time. They do this on a regular basis for several months.\\n\\t\\t\\t
\\n\\t\\t