5 Types of Eating Disorders and Their Symptoms 

May 28, 2024, 06:34 IST

WION Desk

Eating disorders are of multiple types and their symptoms also vary. Due to an unhealthy obsession with body shape and size, people tend to develop unhealthy eating habits that result in an eating disorder. 

1. Anorexia Nervosa

The patient feels that they are severely overweight even though this might not be the case. This leads to avoiding certain foods, starving oneself, reducing calorie intake to a great extent and developing a distorted body image. 

2. Bulimia Nervosa

Individuals go on a binge and fill themselves till the time they feel uncomfortably full. After this, to relieve themselves, they forcefully vomit to remove the guilt of having eaten calories. If left undiagnosed, it can also cause a stroke or heart attack. 

3. Binge Eating Disorder

This is the most common type of eating disorder. People eat large amounts of food endlessly even though they are not hungry. They feel a sense of lack of control while mindlessly bingeing. 

4. Pica

The individual eats things that are not food, like chalk, soap, soil, paper etc. This is usually seen in people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, have an intellectual disability or are autistic. 

5. Rumination Disorder

This is a condition where the individual brings the food that has been swallowed back to the mouth to either chew it again or spit it out. If left untreated, it can lead to severe malnutrition and other issues.

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