GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – According to the National Eating Disorders Association, nearly 29 million Americans will develop an eating disorder in their lifetime and it can affect anyone – regardless of age, race, gender or socioeconomic status. Rebecca is a masters licensed psychologist at Pine Rest, our Mental Health Expert, and she joins us to talk about the different types of eating disorders and warning signs for them.
Main Types of Eating Disorders
It’s important to understand that eating disorders are complex medical and psychological disorders:
• Anorexia Nervosa – characterized by restrictive eating, fear of gaining weight, distortion in body image and physical presentation is underweight
• Bulimia Nervosa – characterized by a patter on binge/purge behaviors, could also engage in restrictive eating, physical presentation varies
• Binge-eating Disorder – “out of control” consumption of food, often in secret, physical presentation varies
• We have also seen a rise in ARFID and Atypical Anorexia diagnoses
Warning signs:
• Preoccupation with food and dieting
• Refusing to eat certain types of food (such as entire food groups)
• Strict food rituals
• Eating alone
• Excessive chewing
• Food can’t touch – must be eaten in a certain order
• Skipping meals
• Excessive or extreme concern with body size and shape
• Signs of purging
• Frequent trips to the bathroom during/after meals
• Dental erosion
Pine Rest
866-852-4001
PineRest.org
Sponsored by Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.
