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When people think of eating disorders, anorexia and bulimia often come to mind. However, several other eating disorders deserve attention as well, including Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Whatever the type, disordered eating causes significant distress, from being ashamed to eat in public to a horrible feeling of helplessness. In […]
When people think of eating disorders, anorexia and bulimia often come to mind. However, several other eating disorders deserve attention as well, including Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Whatever the type, disordered eating causes significant distress, from being ashamed to eat in public to a horrible feeling of helplessness. In order to break harmful habits and begin to heal, you need to get to the root of the issue: mental health.
Unlike anorexia, ARFID is not driven by body image concerns. Instead, individuals with ARFID will avoid certain foods due to texture, taste, or fear of negative consequences like choking. This can result in vitamin deficiencies, general malnutrition, and other health risks.
BED is the most common eating disorder in the U.S. It involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period. BED and bulimia can go hand-in-hand, but BED on its own does not include purging behaviors. Those who suffer from BED will often be overweight, as the shame and helplessness related to disordered eating contributes to a negative mental state, which causes them to seek comfort in food once more. It’s a vicious cycle.
We are constantly discovering new conditions. Orthorexia, an obsession with “clean eating,” has recently been recognized by mental health professionals. These patterns, while not always formally diagnosed, severely impact mental health and physical wellbeing.
Eating disorders take many forms, but all require compassionate support. If you or someone you love is struggling, eating disorder therapy may be a much-needed resource for you. At our practice, we pride ourselves on providing a safe, judgment-free space for individuals with eating disorders to receive tailored care. Give us a call today to get started!
Do you suspect that you might have an eating disorder? If so, you’re not alone. According to statistics published by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), approximately 9% of the U.S. population (28.8 million people) will experience an eating disorder at some point during their lives. Below, we discuss three of […]
Do you suspect that you might have an eating disorder? If so, you’re not alone. According to statistics published by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), approximately 9% of the U.S. population (28.8 million people) will experience an eating disorder at some point during their lives. Below, we discuss three of the most common eating disorders.
Commonly referred to simply as “anorexia,” anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that causes someone to have a distorted perception of their own weight. Because they fear gaining weight, people with this condition tend to severely restrict how much food they eat, essentially starving themselves. They may also exercise excessively.
This eating disorder causes someone to eat a large amount of food in a short amount of time, then try to get rid of the excess calories in an unhealthy way (for example, by vomiting, taking laxatives, or using enemas). This cycle is referred to as “binging and purging.”
Binge-eating disorder causes someone to regularly consume abnormally large amounts of food. People with this condition often report feeling like they’ve lost control and can’t make themselves stop eating.
If you think you might have one of the conditions described above or a different type of eating disorder, we invite you to schedule an appointment with one of the experienced therapists on our team. We understand how having an eating disorder can affect all aspects of your life, and we’ll work with you to overcome your struggles and achieve your treatment goals. Contact us today to get started.
