Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is a mental health condition that affects your relationship with food and how you see yourself (body image). Eating disorders affect your physical and emotional health and can be life-threatening.

The symptoms of eating disorders look and feel different for each person and vary based on the type. You may count calories or limit how much and what types of foods you eat. You may eat large amounts of food, eat non-food items or throw up after eating. Eating may make you feel guilty or shameful instead of satisfied.

Food is a necessity to survive. Everyone has their own connection with food — your favorite things to eat (or avoid) are unique to you. It may be difficult to see when an eating disorder is present because you’ve grown accustomed to it.

While you may feel trapped in a cycle of disordered eating, know that treatment is available to help you feel well again when you’re ready.

Types of eating disorders

There are several different types of eating disorders, including:

• Anorexia nervosa: Restricting food and/or caloric intake (self-starvation), fear of gaining weight and a distorted self-image.
• Bulimia nervosa: Eating large amounts of food in a short amount of time (binging) or believing that the food intake was large, followed by getting rid of the food (purging) by vomiting, using laxatives (medications that make you poop) or exercising excessively.
• Binge eating disorder: Eating or thinking that there was a large amount of food intake in a short amount of time (binging) followed by feeling shame, regret, guilt or depression.
• Pica: Compulsively swallowing non-food items (such as chalk, dirt and paint).
• Rumination disorder: Undigested food returns to a person’s mouth after swallowing it. It’s then rechewed, re-swallowed or spit out.
• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Limiting the amount or type of food eaten for reasons unrelated to a distorted self-image or an attempt to lose weight.

It’s possible to have more than one type of eating disorder at the same time.

How common are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are common. Studies show that 28.8 million people in the United States will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.