Find out about the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, the types of eating disorders, and take short online tests for anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder.
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are serious conditions, and they can have a large impact on your mental and physical well-being.
Although there are different types of eating disorders, they all involve problematic patterns of thought and behaviour around food, eating, and body image. These thoughts can lead to extreme changes in eating, such as restricting the amount of food you are eating or binge-eating.
These disorders can affect anyone and may lead to long-term struggles if left untreated.
Signs and symptoms of eating disorders
Eating disorders tend to present in both emotional and physically.
However, there are several common behaviours that indicate a problem with eating:
Types of eating disorders
There are several recognised types of eating disorders, each with its own behaviours, thought patterns, and health risks.
Anorexia
Anorexia nervosa is characterised by restricted eating and an intense fear of gaining weight. People with anorexia often see themselves as overweight even when underweight, and may exercise excessively or avoid food altogether to combat a distorted body image.
Bulimia
Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge-eating followed by behaviours like vomiting, excessive exercise, or using laxatives to purge the body of food. It can be harder to spot than anorexia, as the weight of people with bulimia may not fluctuate or they may appear outwardly to have normal eating habits.
Binge eating disorder
Binge-eating disorder involves frequently eating large amounts of food in a short time, often in secret and beyond the point of feeling full. Unlike bulimia, it isn’t followed by purging, and it can lead to shame, guilt, and health issues over time.
Difference between anorexia and bulimia
Anorexia and bulimia are two of the most well-known eating disorders. However, they affect the body and mind in different ways.
Anorexia nervosa is typically marked by extreme restriction of food. A person with anorexia may avoid eating, count calories obsessively, or exercise excessively to lose weight or prevent weight gain.
Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge-eating followed by behaviours to prevent weight gain.