What to Know: Eating Disorders

In honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, our Behavioral Health Department is sharing important information to help increase awareness of the types of eating disorders that exist, as well as how to identify the signs that someone you know might be suffering from one of these diseases. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), at least 30 million Americans of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder. Knowing the characteristics of certain eating disorders can help you support a friend or loved one by having a better understanding of what they are experiencing and where to seek help.

Types of eating disorders:

  • Anorexia Nervosa – Not getting enough calories due to excessive dieting, not eating enough, and over-exercising, resulting in a low body weight and having an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.
  • Bulimia Nervosa – Recurrent episodes of binge eating, which means eating a larger amount of food than most people would eat in a two hour period. People with bulimia nervosa experience a lack of control over eating and then tries to make up for it by fasting, inducing vomiting, excessive exercise or use of laxatives.
  • Binge Eating Disorder – Recurrent episodes of overeating and becoming depressed or feeling guilty or ashamed afterward.
  • Pica – Pica is the eating of substances that do not have any nutritional value for at least one month. (ex. cotton or clay)
  • Rumination – Repeated regurgitation of food for at least one month. Includes re-chewing, re-swallowing, or spitting food out.
  • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – A person is unable to meet their nutritional or energy needs.
  • Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) – When you meet some of the criteria for an eating disorder but not all.

Signs of an eating disorder:

  • Weight loss, dieting, and control of food become primary concerns. Constantly comment on their weight and appearance, will say they feel fat, despite weight loss. Will obsess in the mirror and weigh themselves frequently.
  • Dramatic weight loss (not in all cases).
  • Will dress in layers to hide weight loss or stay warm.
  • Denies feeling hungry or wanting to eat.
  • Won’t eat certain foods and highly restrict their diet, will also partake in fad diets, or diet frequently. Will also go to the extreme of skipping meals or only eating small portions at regular meal times.
  • Evidence of binge eating includes a large amount of food disappearing in a short period of time or lots of empty wrappers or containers.
  • Evidence of purging includes many trips to the bathroom after meals, signs/smells of vomiting, and the usage of laxatives or diuretics. Also using a lot of mints, mouthwash or gum to cover bad breath.
  • Feels uncomfortable eating around people and in public places and withdraws from usual friends and activities

Eating disorders mostly appear during adolescence or young adulthood, but can also develop during childhood or later in life. Both genders are affected by eating disorders but are most commonly found in women. But men can also have distorted sense of body image that can cause muscle dysmorphia, that makes them overly concerned with building more muscle.

If you’re a member of The Health Plan and think you or someone you know might have an eating disorder, call us at 1.877.221.9295 to speak with someone from our Behavioral Health Services Department.