3 Common Types of Eating Disorders and Their Possible Causes

People who care too much about their weight and body appearance may develop eating disorders. If you are very distressed about your physical appearance, you may turn to irregular eating habits that wreak havoc on your health. There are several types of eating disorders that can have symptoms of undereating or overeating. Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating are some of the most common types of eating disorders. Both men and women can become victims of these conditions. Teenagers or young adults are more susceptible to developing irregular eating habits.

Eating disorders have been classified as medical illnesses that also need medical treatment. Treatment measures for these disorders can be very effective. If you or someone you know is suffering from any of these conditions, you should seek professional medical help immediately. If not addressed promptly, the consequences can be detrimental. Eating disorders often coexist with other emotional problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.

• anorexia nervosa It is a common type of eating disorder. People with this condition have an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Their perception of their body weight tends to be unrealistic as they refuse to keep their weight at a healthy level. Victims of anorexia nervosa always believe they are overweight, when in fact they are already underweight. They ferociously eat very little food. The consequences of being anorexic are detrimental, including multi-organ failure, brain damage, infertility, heart problems, and bone loss. There is a high risk of death for people suffering from anorexia nervosa.
• bulimia nervosa is another disease of irregular feeding. Its symptoms include eating large amounts of food (binge eating) and then compensating by forcing vomiting. To alter their binge eating, bulimics may also exercise excessively or take large amounts of diuretics or laxatives. Bulimic men and women are very unhappy with their body weight and appearance. They also fear gaining weight. Bulimics’ tendency to binge and purge is often done in secret, leaving them feeling guilty, ashamed, and out of control. Harmful effects of bulimia are severe hydration, gastrointestinal problems, and electrolyte imbalance that can lead to heart problems.
• binge eating disorders. This disorder is characterized by being out of control in eating. But unlike bulimia nervosa, binge eaters don’t purge, exercise excessively, or take diuretics or laxatives after binge eating. This is why compulsive eaters tend to be obese. Due to excess body weight, people who binge eat can also develop cardiovascular diseases. Those struggling with this disease may also suffer from feelings of distress, guilt, and shame about overeating, which in turn worsens their eating disorder.

One facet of factors leads to the development of eating disorders, although the exact cause is not yet pinpointed. Biological factors such as irregular hormonal functioning, nutritional deficiencies and genetics have been considered as causes. Psychological factors can also be to blame, such as low self-esteem and negative body image. Environmental factors that can cause eating disorders are certain careers and professions that require being slim (modeling and ballet), aesthetically oriented sports that require maintaining a slim body for best performance (ballet, wrestling, gymnastics, diving, rowing, etc.). Childhood and family trauma, dysfunctional family dynamics, cultural and peer pressure, and stressful life changes are other possible environmental causes of eating disorders.

Various levels of treatment are available, so if you or a family member or friend is suffering from any of these eating disorders, you should seek help immediately.