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.

Some people with eating disorders severely restrict their food intake (anorexia nervosa), while others eat excessively (binge eating disorder or compulsive overeating). They may also vomit, take laxatives, or exercise excessively to try to prevent weight gain after binge eating (bulimia nervosa).

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 they can occur at any age and in both sexes.

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 a poor diet. These other health problems can include menstrual period changes, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) and, in severe cases, heart and other organ problems.

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

Bulimia is a type of eating disorder. People with bulimia will eat a larger amount of food than most people would in a similar situation, in a short time (binge). Then they do something to prevent weight gain. They may vomit or use medicines like laxatives to get rid of food (purge). Or they may exercise too much or go without food (fast). This becomes a cycle.

People who have bulimia judge themselves harshly on their body weight and shape. During a binge, they feel out of control and feel unable to stop eating. After binge eating, they feel very afraid of gaining weight. This fear causes them to do things like purge, exercise too much, or fast in hopes of undoing any possible weight gain from the binge.

Without treatment, bulimia can lead to serious, long-term health problems.

Anorexia is a type of eating disorder. People who have anorexia usually have a very low body weight because of an intense fear of gaining weight. They may not eat enough food because of this fear. Some people with anorexia make themselves vomit to avoid weight gain. Sometimes they exercise too much. They may have a false belief about how they look (distorted body image). And they may not realize how serious their low body weight is. If not treated, it can lead to serious health problems, starvation, and even death.

Anyone can have anorexia. It usually starts in the teen years. The earlier the problem is treated, the better the chances are that someone with anorexia can recover.

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.

Some people who binge have a normal weight. But over time, many gain weight and have problems from being obese. People who have binge eating disorder also often have depression, anxiety, or other emotional problems.

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

Binge eating disorder isn't the same thing as bulimia. 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. Binge eating disorder is sometimes called compulsive overeating.

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:

• 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.
• Levels of iron, sugar, protein, and fat.
• The function of the kidneys, liver, and thyroid gland.
• Levels of certain hormones, such as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in women and testosterone in men.
• Levels of vitamins and minerals in the body.

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

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:

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

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 a problem 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.

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

Common eating disorders include:

• Anorexia. Teens with this condition limit how much food they eat. They can become dangerously underweight.
• Bulimia. Teens 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.
• Binge eating disorder, or compulsive overeating. Teens with this condition eat a large amount of food in a short time. They do this on a regular basis for several months.