Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious illnesses that involve severe disturbances in eating behavior. Being very focused on weight, body shape, or controlling food can be a sign (NIMH). Common types include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

Eating disorders can affect people of any size, and a person can look healthy while being very ill.

People often describe a strong preoccupation with food, weight, or shape, along with shame, guilt, fear, or a feeling of losing control around eating. Eating or not eating may feel like a way to cope with painful feelings.

Signs that others may notice include:

• Big changes in weight, or rigid rules about food and exercise
• Skipping meals, or eating alone or in secret
• Eating a large amount very quickly and then regularly going to the bathroom right after meals (this can be a sign of purging)
• Wearing loose or layered clothing to hide the body
• Anxiety, shame, or irritability around meals
• Being very afraid of gaining weight, or unhappy with body shape

ARFID is different: eating is limited because of fear of choking or vomiting, sensory reasons such as texture or smell, or low interest in eating, and not because of body image.

Eating disorders can be treated, and early treatment supports full recovery (NIMH). Care usually involves a team, such as a medical doctor, a therapist, and a dietitian. For teens, especially with anorexia, family-based treatment, where parents take an active role in re-establishing eating, is a main first choice. For adults, CBT-based therapy is common, and for anorexia other specialist therapies may also be used.

Please reach out early. If someone faints, has chest pain, a very slow or irregular heartbeat, or is losing weight quickly, get medical care right away. These illnesses can be serious. In the United States, call or text 988 if there are thoughts of suicide. Elsewhere, use your local emergency number or findahelpline.com.

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Eating Disorders
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know
• National Health Service (UK). Eating disorders overview