Types Of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are taking its toll, not only to adults but to youngsters as well. The National Institute of Mental Health cited in their reports that about 5 to 10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men suffer from eating disorders. Aside from these alarming numbers, there are still many unreported cases.

Most common reasons and cases of eating disorders would be because of the increasing social pressure to achieve a thinner body shape and appearance. This can be associated with the changing standards of beauty as described and portrayed by media and popular culture. Subconsciously, everybody is creating an image that being thin is being beautiful.

There are different types of eating disorders. The three main types of eating disorders are:

• Anorexia- this is commonly described as “refusal to eat normally.” In comes from a Greek word which means “lack of appetite.” Most anorexics are described as individuals who fear of gaining weight. The person affected with this kind of disorder rarely eats which is why extreme weight loss happens. Aside from drastic weight loss, the individual also experienced lack of energy for any physical activity, hair, skin and nail problems. Anorexics also suffer from very low self-esteem and most of the times have depression.
• Bulimia – is commonly described of incidents of overeating or binge eating and then would induce themselves into vomiting, excessive exercise, over-se or misuse of diet pills or fasting. Bulimic individuals do not have to be underweight like anorexics but they still feel unsatisfied with their body. Just like anorexics they would also have low self-esteem. Long sufferers of bulimia tend to suffer gastrointestinal system problems, and also problems in other parts of the body, mouth, teeth and kidneys.
• Binge eating – this disorder is often characterized to be compulsive and excessive overeating. Unlike bulimics, binge eaters do not do anything to treat or counteract their overeating tendencies. Most binge eaters would use food to distract them from uncomfortable moments and problems in life. Food is often used to remove stress or deal with any painful feelings.

These three eating disorders are the main eating disorders. However there are other eating disorders that can be congenital conditions or associated to mental conditions. For example pica, another compulsive eating disorder, is about eating non-food items or foods with no nutrition at all. Pica sufferers would eat items like chalk, plaster, baking soda, paint chips, glue, starch, ice, coffee grounds and eve cigarette ashes. Sometimes, this disorder can be associated to mental deficiencies and developmental delays.

There is also a congenital eating disorder or condition, the Prader-Willi Syndrome. This is mainly due to abnormality in genes. This condition can be described as insatiable appetite which can be often associated to behavioural and mental problems. Prader-Willi Sydrome sufferes would also have motor development problems, abnormal growth, speech impairments, dental problems, obesity and diabetes type II.

Understanding eating disorders is important to know how to address these issues. Increasing number or adults, also teens, are suffering from eating disorders. Increasing our awareness would help us deal with this fast becoming social concern.