Eating disorders are serious physical and mental health conditions that can have life-threatening consequences for the people who suffer from them. The causes of eating disorders are complex, and can result from a combination of genetic, societal, interpersonal, and psychological factors.
Anorexia Nervosa: Affects approximately 1 out of every 100 young women. People with anorexia often become very fearful of food and weight gain, and can have distorted thinking surrounding shape and weight.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): It sometimes known as “selective eating disorder,” is an illness affecting eating or feeding behaviors that can significantly impact a person’s physical and mental health. Those who struggle with this disorder are typically unable to meet their body’s nutritional or energy needs, caused by a refusal to eat food or a tendency to avoid certain types of foods. People with ARFID tend to have a lack of interest in eating or food in general. They often avoid foods based on textures, smells, or other sensory characteristics. Some individuals with ARFID may show concern or be obsessive about the consequences of eating certain foods, which are unrelated to their body image or weight.
Bulimia Nervosa: Occurs in another 2 to 5 out of every 100 young women. This disorder is characterized by a sense of loss of control when eating; often individuals will consume large quantities of food in one sitting and then engage in compensatory purging behaviors (i.e. vomiting, laxative use and/or compulsive exercise).
Binge Eating Disorder: Affects about 10-15% of mildly obese individuals, and is marked by repeated episodes of uncontrolled overeating. This disorder can lead to conditions of overweight and obesity.
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED): Is a diagnostic category that represents individuals with eating disordered behaviors that resemble anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa but whose eating behaviors do not meet one or more essential diagnostic criteria.
The Impact of Eating Disorders
In addition to the significant negative effects on an individual affected by an eating disorder, these illnesses also have a large impact on families, colleagues, and the economy. The Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) found that eating disorders incur the highest average cost and longest length of stay for inpatient treatment when compared against any other primary mental health diagnosis.
You can learn more by watching the EDC webcast, “COVID-19 and Eating Disorders: How Untreated Eating Disorders Impact Americans, Medicare and the Economy” here. Materials related to the presentation are available below:
Nine Truths About Eating Disorders
- You can’t tell by looking at someone whether they have an eating disorder.
- Families are not to blame.
- Families can be the patients’ best allies in treatment.
- Eating disorders are not choices, but serious biologically-influenced mental illnesses.
- Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, weight and body size.
- Eating disorders carry an increased risk for both suicide and physical/medical complications.
- Genes play a role in eating disorders, but environment also influences their development.
- Genes are not destiny when it comes to eating disorders.
- Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible.
*Produced in collaboration with DR. Cynthia Bulik, PhD, Professor of Eating Disorders in the School of Medicine in the University of North Carolina.