Patient Info

Eating Disorders

Different types of Eating Disorders

There are many forms of eating disorders; anorexia and bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS).

Anorexia Nervosa

Characteristics include:

• Severe restriction of food intake
• Loss of body weight to an unhealthy level
• Intense fear of gaining weight /or losing control of eating
• Developing rituals around preparing food and eating
• Often a disturbed body image-still regarding self as fat despite being quite underweight.
• Extreme concerns about weight
• Pronounced emotional changes, such as irritability, depression and anxiety

Bulimia Nervosa

Characteristics include:

An over-preoccupation with food and weight resulting in out of control eating patterns such as:

• Eating binges which involve the consumption of large amounts of food in discrete periods of time. These usually occur secretly, and are accompanied by feelings of shame, guilt and being out of control.
• Attempts to compensate for binges and avoid weight gain by one or more of the following methods: self induced vomiting, taking laxatives, diuretics or diet pills, fluid or diet pills, excessive exercise, periods of strict dieting.
• Rituals to allow for binging and purging

Binge Eating Disorder

Characteristics include:

• Periods of binge eating without compensatory behaviour such as vomiting or excessive exercise.
• Feeling that eating is out of control
• Eating to the point of feeling uncomfortable
• Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry
• Being secretive about what is eaten and when
• Feeling disgusted, depressed or guilty about overeating.

Other Eating Disorders (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified, EDNOS)

This category is frequently used for people who meet some, but not all, of the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. For example, anorexia and bulimia may co-exist, or some people may have a very restricted food intake without fulfilling all of the criteria for anorexia nervosa. A person who shows almost all of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa, but who still has a normal menstrual cycle and/or body mass index, can be diagnosed with EDNOS.