Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a fear of becoming fat, accompanied by a restriction or refusal of food, which results in significant weight loss and death in acute cases. Anorectics evidence an abnormal attitude toward weight and body size, as well as a fear of and often a fascination with food. Typical personality characteristics displayed by those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa include low self esteem, perfectionism, control issues, overachieving tendencies, compliant behavior, compulsive behavior and other related issues.

Symptoms

• Substantial self-induced weight loss (15% or more of normal body weight)
•  Distorted self body image
•  Unreasonable, overwhelming fear of fatness, resulting in an intense drive for thinness
• Cessation or irregularities of menstrual cycle (absence of three consecutive menstrual cycles)

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by repeated episodes of binging (i.e. excessive food consumption in a short period of time) followed by purging in an effort to prevent weight gain. Purging is usually accomplished through vomiting, laxative abuse, enemas, diuretics, exercise, and fasting. Bulimics often exhibit tendencies toward self-indulgence/self gratification, self-loathing, mood swings, isolation and depression.

Symptoms

• Binge eating averaging twice per week for 3 months
• Purging (vomiting, laxative, enema, diuretic abuse, excessive exercise and/or fasting) following binging
• Fear of fatness; obsession with thinness

Binge Eating

Binge Eating is an eating disorder characterized by the episodic consumption of excessive amounts of food in a short period of time followed by feelings of disgust, guilt and depression, due to the individual’s lack of control over eating. Binge Eating is distinguished from Compulsive Overeating by the following: the short period of time in which the food is consumed; and the attendant sense of a lack of control over food that the individual experiences.

Compulsive Overeating

Compulsive Overeating is an eating disorder characterized by consistent excessive consumption of food at everyday meals, which results in weight gain. Compulsive overeating is typically a response to feelings of stress, depression, anxiety, loneliness and other underlying issues.

Orthorexia Nervosa

Othorexia Nervosa, while currently not a recognized diagnosis, is characterized by a fixation on the exclusive consumption of specific foods, typically ‘health’ foods. Orthorexia can be as destructive to one’s health as are the recognized eating disorders. Orthorectics adhere to an increasingly specific food regimen. Irrational feelings of guilt usually follow any deviations from the specified diet, often resulting in increased dietary stringency. Orthorexia differs from Anorexia and Bulimia in that orthorectics obsess about the ‘quality’ rather than the ‘quantity’ of food ingested.