Eating disorders are often caused by serious physical and emotional problems that affect the person's relationship with food and self-image. They affect both males and females and can be fatal. Here are the three different types of eating disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is among the most common eating disorders. Someone with this condition limits his or her food intake to the point of inadequacy in order to lose weight or to maintain a certain weight. An anorexic also has an intense fear of gaining weight and is often obsessed by it. An anorexic may or may not eat at all; those who do eat only take a few bites and find ways to burn the calories immediately, often doing strenuous exercises. Like most eating disorders, anorexia is caused by poor self-esteem.
Bulimia Nervosa
A bulimic frequently consumes large amounts of food, then proceeds to purge to prevent weight gain. Self-induced vomiting is the most common way bulimics prevent weight gain. They can also perform strenuous exercise or immediately take diet pills, laxatives, and diuretics after a binge-eating episode. Like anorexia, bulimia is caused by poor self-esteem.
Binge Eating Disorder
Individuals with binge eating disorders frequently consume large amounts of food and have no control over what they are doing. They feel helpless and often develop strong feelings of guilt or shame after binge eating, but they cannot stop. Binge eaters eat even when they're not hungry. They may overeat to the point of discomfort, or prefer to eat alone because they're ashamed of what others will think of their behaviour. Binge eating may be caused by stress, insecurities, and self-consciousness. Binge eating may be triggered by anxiety. The person continues to eat until they think they feel happy or pleased, only to feel sadder and more depressed later because of feelings of guilt and shame for eating too much.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is among the most common eating disorders. Someone with this condition limits his or her food intake to the point of inadequacy in order to lose weight or to maintain a certain weight. An anorexic also has an intense fear of gaining weight and is often obsessed by it. An anorexic may or may not eat at all; those who do eat only take a few bites and find ways to burn the calories immediately, often doing strenuous exercises. Like most eating disorders, anorexia is caused by poor self-esteem.
Bulimia Nervosa
A bulimic frequently consumes large amounts of food, then proceeds to purge to prevent weight gain. Self-induced vomiting is the most common way bulimics prevent weight gain. They can also perform strenuous exercise or immediately take diet pills, laxatives, and diuretics after a binge-eating episode. Like anorexia, bulimia is caused by poor self-esteem.
Binge Eating Disorder
Individuals with binge eating disorders frequently consume large amounts of food and have no control over what they are doing. They feel helpless and often develop strong feelings of guilt or shame after binge eating, but they cannot stop. Binge eaters eat even when they're not hungry. They may overeat to the point of discomfort, or prefer to eat alone because they're ashamed of what others will think of their behaviour. Binge eating may be caused by stress, insecurities, and self-consciousness. Binge eating may be triggered by anxiety. The person continues to eat until they think they feel happy or pleased, only to feel sadder and more depressed later because of feelings of guilt and shame for eating too much.