What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are an abnormal attitude towards food, body image and body weight which transpires in a number of disorder classifications. The primary three are anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorders (BED).

Anorexia nervosa is when someone attempts to maintain a chronically dangerously low weight by purposefully starving themselves, exercising excessively and purging. It is characterized by an anxious preoccupation with food and body image, with corresponding secretive, ritualistic and manipulative behaviours.

Bulimia is a chronic condition which for some may be constant in their lives. For others it is reactive to stressful events. Bulimialike binge eating is the attempt to control weight and emotional aspects of life by over-eating and then deliberately being sick or using laxatives (medication to help empty the bowels). Binging is a response to emotional distress, over-compensating, self-esteem issues and difficulty recognizing bodily sensations.

Binge eating disorder is classified as being more spasmodic than bulimia, but no less serious. It is characterized by control and compulsion to overeat.

These eating disorders have a significant impact on the developmental needs of young people, usually during their most significant developmental period (puberty). The direct causes are unknown, but it is known that eating disorders impact not only physically, but also psychologically and on social developmental needs.

Who is affected by eating disorders?