What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are a range of conditions which involve abnormal eating habits which can affect almost anyone at any age. Eating disorders can include eating too much or too little and individuals can become consumed with their body image, weight and shape. The main eating disorders are:
- Bulimia nervosa – binge eating and subsequently purging
- Anorexia nervosa – restricting food intake; binging and purging; over-exercising to burn calories
- Binge eating – binge eating without purging
- Rumination – regurgitating food and either swallowing or spitting it out
- Pica – craving non-food substances
- Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder – lack of interest in food or avoidance due to sensory characteristics of food
There are usually underlying causes of eating disorders and food restriction can often be a form of maintaining control in an individual’s life.
What causes eating disorders?
There is no exact cause of an individual developing an eating disorder, we know, however, that you are more likely to develop an issue with eating if:
- There is a family history of eating disorders
- You have been criticised for your eating habits or body image
- You feel societal pressures to be slim
- You have anxiety, low self-esteem, or are a perfectionist
- You have been sexually abused
