The National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) defines eating disorders as “serious medical illnesses marked by severe disturbances to a person’s eating behavior.” There are several different types of eating disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) that are categorized under the Disorder Class: Feeding and Eating Disorders, some of which include:
- Anorexia nervosa: characterized by weight loss and/ or lack of appropriate weight gain in growing children, an inability to maintain an appropriate body weight for one’s age, height, stature, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body image.
- Bulimia nervosa: characterized by a cycle of overeating (bingeing) and compensatory behaviors (purging) in attempts to undo the effects of the binge eating episodes.
- Binge-eating disorder (BED): characterized by recurrent episodes of compulsively eating abnormally large quantities of food (often quickly) to the point of physical discomfort, without engaging in compensatory behaviors.
- Pica: characterized by eating items that are not typically thought of as food and do not contain significant nutritional value.
- Rumination disorder: characterized by repeatedly and unintentionally regurgitating (spitting up) undigested or partially digested food from the stomach, chewing it again and either swallowing it or spitting it out.
- Avoidant/ restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): characterized by restricting food intake (e.g., eating smaller amounts) and/ or eliminating certain groups to the point of infringing on one’s exposure to and ability to absorb needed nutrients coming from food.
Eating disorders require medical intervention, and if left untreated, eating disorders can result in severe short and long-term consequences.
Warning Signs
Different types of eating disorders have different symptoms, but each condition involves an extreme focus on issues related to food and eating, and some involve an extreme focus on weight. Someone struggling with an eating disorder will not typically experience all the signs and symptoms simultaneously. The Mayo Clinic provides a list of examples intended as a general overview of the types of behaviors that may indicate a problem, including but not limited to:
- Obsessively focusing on healthy eating
- Skipping meals
- Withdrawing from social activities
- Making excuses for not eating
- Adhering to an overly restrictive diet
- Preparing separate meals when eating in a group instead of eating what everyone else is eating
- Excessive exercise
- Constantly checking the mirror and/ or pointing out perceived flaws
- Using laxatives, herbal weight loss products, and/ or dietary supplements
- Regularly excusing oneself during meals to use the restroom
- Eating in secret
- Expressing disgust, shame, and/ or guilt about one’s eating habits
The combination, severity, and duration of symptoms is influenced by the type of eating disorder present as well as the individual. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and/ or are concerned you may have an eating disorder it be best to err on the side of caution and pursue professional guidance.
Treatment In Calabasas
Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.
The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.
