Eating disorders affect over 5% of the population according to the American Psychiatric Association. They are prone to develop in the tenuous periods of adolescence and young adulthood. While many people might use disparaging terms such as ‘skinny disease’, or think people suffering from eating disorders are obsessed with food and body weight, the truth, however, is far more complicated. Individuals that deal with eating and weight disorders have little to no control over their eating habits. These conditions are serious and are unfortunately also surrounded by a lot of stigmas. 

Eating and weight disorders are complex psychological conditions that can result in erratic and extremely damaging eating habits. The effects of eating disorders are serious, and can even be fatal in some cases. Given that these conditions result in a variety of complications, a multidisciplinary approach is required to treat them. Several eating disorders have been identified, and thankfully, we have more knowledge about them than ever before. Read on to know more about what it’s like to have an eating disorder, the symptoms, risk factors, and why you should get help for yourself or for someone you know.

What are Eating and Weight Disorders?

• Eating and weight disorders are characterized by a disruption in eating patterns resulting from a range of psychological conditions. 
• If you’ve wondered ‘can you get sick from not eating?’ The answer is yes, however, eating disorders are associated with distressing thoughts and emotions along with the consequences of erratic eating patterns. 
• These conditions are more prevalent in women when compared to men, and can present themselves as fixations on body image, body weight, and in a more reductive sense, being obsessed with food. 
• Eating disorders are described and detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) or DSM-5. 
• The effects of eating disorders depend on the type of the condition, and several eating disorders are prevalent; we discuss these in more detail in the upcoming section. 

The Causes & Risk Factors of Eating and Weight Disorders

• While the exact causes of these conditions are not completely understood, there’s a link between genetics and the appearance of eating and weight disorders. 
• Behavioral traits and issues such as impulsiveness, neuroticism, and an excessive fixation on perfectionism are also known to lead to an increased likelihood of developing these conditions. 
• Cultural and peer influences, along with pressures to be thin are known to cause a great deal of stress and anxiety to young women - a factor that can precipitate the manifestation of eating disorders. 
• The social stigma that surrounds body image, dietary choices, and eating disorders at large, have also contributed largely to the shame and guilt felt by the victims of these conditions.
• Eating disorder risk factors are commonly linked to positive family history, a history of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, body dysmorphic disorder, and stress. These conditions can also present as symptoms of starvation.

Common Eating Disorders & Their Symptoms

The prevalent types of eating disorders are: 

• Anorexia nervosa
  
• This is a potentially life-threatening condition that affects individuals during adolescence. It has a higher incidence among women than in men.
• The condition is multifactorial and involves a complex interplay of psychological and behavioral mechanisms. 
• The affected individuals are often fixated on their body weight or body shape, despite being underweight, and look to lose weight further with extremely calorie-deficient diets, exercising excessively, or purging the food they eat. 
• The effects of eating disorders like anorexia can lead to severe malnutrition, and subsequently, starvation.
• Anorexic individuals are plagued by an unusual fear of gaining weight, overbearing thoughts concerning food, and their eating habits. 
• This condition forms an important link between eating disorders and anxiety. Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa tend to face anxiety attacks and feel that they need to control every situation around them, in addition to their abnormal eating habits.
• Anorexic patients are categorized under restrictive & purge types. The former type of patient restricts their calories, whereas the latter might consume laxatives, or forcefully gag themselves to throw up the food they consumed. 
• Anorexia can lead to- 
• Infertility 
• Osteoporosis 
• Hair loss 
• Anemia 
• Muscle wasting/ Atrophy 
• Low blood pressure and heart rate 
• Fatigue 
• Damage to cardiac muscles 
• Brain dysfunction 
• Potential death 

• Bulimia nervosa
• Bulimia is another eating and weight disorder prevalent among adolescents and young adults. 
• This condition entails a period of binge eating within a specific time window, eventually followed by a forced purge.
• Bulimic individuals often eat until a point they’re uncomfortably full, often lacking control over the amount they eat. 
• To avoid the calories from the excessive food or to relieve discomfort, patients will often purge themselves using either laxatives or manual methods.
• If you’ve wondered ‘what do anorexia and bulimia have in common?’ The answer lies in the similarities between purge type anorexia and bulimia. 
• However, the similarities end there, as bulimic individuals maintain a relatively normal weight, and might sometimes even be slightly overweight. 
• Bulimia is precipitated also by following a restrictive diet during the day, followed by a binge that constitutes food that is commonly avoided at night, eventually leading to a purge. 
• Like anorexia, bulimia too can be life-threatening and involves a variety of effects such as: 
• Acid reflux 
• Worn enamel of teeth 
• Recurrent episodes of tooth decay 
• An inflamed and sore throat 
• Swollen and tender salivary glands
• Intestinal distress
• Dehydration 
• Electrolyte and acid-base imbalance 
• Potential death 

• Binge Eating Disorder
• This eating and weight disorder is one of the most prevalent and can develop at any point in life, despite higher incidences during puberty and young adulthood. 
• Individuals with binge eating disorders tend to eat unusually large amounts of food within a short time frame, much like the binge phases of bulimia and binge-type anorexia. 
• However, individuals with this condition do not use restrictive tactics to limit their calories or purge themselves. This can result in them becoming overweight and obese. 
• Guilt, shame, self-pity, disgust, and emotional distress are commonly felt after a bout of binge eating, or when thinking about these episodes in retrospect. 
• People affected by this eating and weight disorder are often unable to exercise control over their eating habits during the episodes. 
• Binge eating disorder also entails eating large amounts of food in very short periods, sometimes in secret, even if the individual isn’t hungry. 

• Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
• This disorder was formerly called a selective eating disorder, and feeding disorder of infancy and early childhood. 
• It is a condition commonly observed in infants and young children that have an aversion to food with certain tastes and smells. ARFID also entails a disinterest in eating. 
• Though it is more prevalent in children, ARFID is also observed in adults and the elderly. 
• It’s important to mention that ARFID is a pathological condition, and is distinct from the normal phases of picky and fussy eating seen in children and adults. 
• ARFID can affect activities such as having a meal with others and also impacts the number of calories consumed, a cause for undernourishment. 
• A severe form of this disorder can result in improper growth and might even cause stunting, and other conditions stemming from a deficient diet. 

• Rumination Disorder
• This condition involves the individual regurgitating chewed & swallowed food. The patient might either chew the regurgitated food again and swallow it, or spit it out. 
• The condition is commonly misdiagnosed as gastric reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 
• Regurgitation commonly occurs between 10 and 30 minutes after a meal. 
• The condition affects children but is also seen in adults. It develops before the child turns one year old, and later in the case of adults. 
• Rumination can cause damage to teeth enamel, halitosis, severe weight loss, malnutrition, and stunting. 
• The condition can be treated with therapy to manage the habit. 

• Pica
• Pica is an eating and weight disorder that causes the affected individual to ingest and consume substances that aren’t edible. 
• These include dirt, hair, soap, textiles, detergent, and pebbles to name a few. 
• Most prevalent in children, the mentally disadvantaged, and pregnant women, pica can also appear in healthy adults. 
• The condition puts those who suffer from it at risk of poisoning, injury, and malnutrition- some of the major effects of eating disorders of this nature. 

Eating and weight disorders are some of the overlooked, yet serious conditions that can result in dire consequences for those who suffer from them. Make sure you see your doctor if you experience more than two of the symptoms mentioned above. Don’t forget to reach out for help if you have been wondering what it’s like to have an eating disorder. If you know someone who you think suffers from an eating disorder, reach out to them and help them find the medical attention they deserve.