Eating disturbances may comprise inadequate or excessive food intake which can ultimately damage an individual’s well-being. The most general forms of eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder and affect both females and males.

Types of Eating Disorders

The three most common types of Eating Disorders are as follows:

 Anorexia Nervosa–

The male or female suffering from anorexia nervosa will usually have an obsessive fear of gaining weight, refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an unrealistic perception of body image. Many people with anorexia nervosa will fiercely limit the amount of food they consume and view themselves as overweight, even when they are clearly underweight. Anorexia can have damaging health effects, such as brain harm, multi-organ failure, bone loss, heart difficulties, and infertility. The risk of death is highest in individuals with this disease.

Bulimia Nervosa-

This eating disorder is characterized by repeated binge eating followed by behaviors that compensate for the overeating, such as forced vomiting, excessive exercise, or extreme use of laxatives or diuretics. Men and women who suffer from Bulimia may fear weight gain and feel severely unhappy with their body size and shape. The binge-eating and purging cycle is typically done in secret, creating feelings of shame, guilt, and lack of control. Bulimia can have injuring effects, such as gastrointestinal problems, severe dehydration, and heart complexity resulting from an electrolyte imbalance.

Binge Eating Disorder-

Individuals who suffer from Binge Eating Disorder will frequently lose control over his or her eating. Different from bulimia nervosa however, episodes of binge-eating are not followed by compensatory behaviors, such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise. Because of this, many people suffering from BED may be obese and at an enlarged risk of developing other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease. Men and women who struggle with this disorder may also experience intense feelings of guilt, distress, and embarrassment connected to their binge-eating, which could influence the further progression of the eating disorder.

Causes of Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders are difficult disorders, influenced by a facet of factors. Though the accurate reason of eating disorders is unknown, it is usually believed that a mixture of biological, psychological, and/or environmental abnormalities contribute to the development of these illnesses.

Examples of biological factors include:

• Irregular hormone functions
• Genetics
• Nutritional deficiencies

Examples of psychological factors include:

• Negative body image
• Poor self-esteem