5 Common Types of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders can affect people of all genders, ages, and ethnicities. Bulimia, anorexia, and compulsive overeating are all dangerous eating disorders that can lead to sad consequences. Most often, to solve these disorders, you need to get a psychiatrist's help.  

Here are the symptoms of the five different eating disorders that you should be aware of:

1. Bulimia

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder associated with a loss of control over food intake and the desire to lose weight. This disease is characterized by periodic overeating and subsequent cleansing of the body. Bulimia patients are at higher risk of heart failure, diabetes, and inflammation of the esophagus, which can all result in serious physical damage to the human body. 

Vomiting can damage your teeth. In addition, laxative misuse can lead to heart disease and digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation. Hence, it’s crucial to get help quickly if you think you have bulimia.

The main signs that a person has bulimia nervosa include:

• Overeating at every meal


• Uncontrollable appetite


• The high mood during meals, at other times - depressed and irritable


• Pangs of conscience after eating


• Stomach bleeding


• Menstrual disorders in women


• Refusal to communicate with people, unwillingness to study and work


• Constipation

2. Anorexia

Anorexia is one of the most dangerous and widespread eating disorders. The disease is caused by mental disorders and is characterized by refusal to eat and obsession with weight. Female adolescents are the most exposed to this condition, which affects up to 1 in 200 girls. They tend to follow the ideals of beauty and do not always realize that it leads to a serious disease. Only one in 11 people who develop anorexia after puberty are male. 

The symptoms of anorexia include:

• Constant desire to lose weight. 


• Fear of gaining a few extra pounds


• Lack of appetite


• Sleep problems


• Dissatisfaction with one’s reflection in the mirror 

3. Night eating syndrome 

Night eating syndrome is a significant consumption of food at night. People with this syndrome may consume half or more of their daily food intake late at night. Typically resulting from stress and chronic fatigue, the syndrome is characterized by the emergence of unbridled hunger in the evening and at night, with 'eating everything indiscriminately until stomach pain. Compulsive overeating is not always possible to overcome alone. Sometimes it requires the help of a psychologist and medication. Overeating at night is most prevalent in women. 

The main signs that a person has night eating syndrome are:  

• Lack of appetite every morning


• You believe that eating at night will help you fall asleep.


• You have constant depression and anxiety.


• You often have trouble sleeping


• Eating food randomly (patients with compulsive gluttony eat everything they see)


• Lack of pleasure from the process of eating 

 4. Binge eating disorder (BED) 

People suffering from BED lose control over their food intake and may eat a lot of food in a short amount of time, even if they aren’t hungry. In addition, emotional stress or distress often plays a role and might trigger a period of binge eating. Unlike Bulimia patients,  those with BED do not empty their stomachs and instead are in constant overeating. 

Signs that you may have a binge eating disorder:

• Uncontrolled consumption of food 


• Eating and not being able to stop until you feel sick 


• Eating even if you do not feel hungry 

5. Pregorexia 

Pregorexia is a phrase invented by the media to characterize pregnant women who cut calories and exercise excessively to limit pregnancy weight gain. However, most women go into pregnancy with a weight loss strategy because it is well-known that pregnancy causes weight increase and other biological changes.

 Symptoms of pregorexia include:

• A reluctance to change your exercise routine


• Calorie counting obsession


• A sense of shame and remorse about gaining weight


• Dining alone


• Weighing oneself daily


• Gaining very little weight


• Exhibiting self-consciousness about one’s physical weight, shape, or size


• Chronic exhaustion

Eating disorders can be painful and make our life harder.