Eating disorders
Types of eatingdisorders
Eating disorders include a range of conditions that can affect someone physically, psychologically and socially. The most common eating disorders are:
- Anorexia nervosa when a person tries to keep their weight as low as possible;for example, by starving themselves or exercising excessively
- bulimia when a person goes through periods of binge eating and is then deliberately sick or uses laxatives (medication to help empty the bowels) to try to control their weight
- binge eatingdisorder (BED) when a person feels compelled to overeat large amounts of food in a short space of time
Some people, particularly those who are young, may be diagnosed with an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). This means you have some, but not all, of the typical signs of eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about the different types of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating, as well as what causes them and the treatments available.
Types of eatingdisorders
Eating disorders include a range of conditions that can affect someone physically, psychologically and socially. The most common eating disorders are: Anorexia nervosa when a person tries to keep
What causes eating disorders?
Eating disorders are often blamed on the social pressure to be thin, as young people in particular feel they should look a certain way. However, the causes are usually more complex. An eating disorde
Do I have an eating disorder?
Doctors sometimes use a questionnaire to help identify people who may have an eating disorder. The questionnaire asks the following five questions: Do you make yourself sick because you feel uncomfo
Spotting an eating disorder in others
It can often be very difficult toidentify that a loved one or friend has developed an eating disorder. Warning signs to look out for include: missing meals complaining of being fat, even though th
Who's affected byeating disorders?
A 2015 report commissioned by Beat estimates more than 725,000 peoplein the UK are affected by an eating disorder. Eating disorders tend to be more common in certain age groups, but they can affect pe
Treating eating disorders
Ifan eating disorder isn'ttreated, it can have a negative impact on someone's job or schoolwork, and can disrupt relationships with family members and friends. The physical effects of an eating disord
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