Symptoms vary, depending on the type of eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder are the most common eating disorders. Other eating disorders include rumination disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Anorexia nervosa Anorexia (an-o-REK-see-uh) nervosa — often simply called anorexia — is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight or shape. People with anorexia use extreme efforts to control their weight and shape, which often significantly interferes with their health and life activities. When you have anorexia, you excessively limit calories or use other methods to lose weight, such as excessive exercise, using laxatives or diet aids, or vomiting after eating. Efforts to reduce your weight, even when underweight, can cause severe health problems, sometimes to the point of deadly self-starvation. Bulimia nervosa Bulimia (boo-LEE-me-uh) nervosa — commonly called bulimia — is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. When you have bulimia, you have episodes of bingeing and purging that involve feeling a lack of control over your eating. Many people with bulimia also restrict their eating during the day, which often leads to more binge eating and purging. During these episodes, you typically eat a large amount of food in a short time, and then try to rid yourself of the extra calories in an unhealthy way. Because of guilt, shame and an intense fear of weight gain from overeating, you may force vomiting or you may exercise too much or use other methods, such as laxatives, to get rid of the calories. If you have bulimia, you're probably preoccupied with your weight and body shape, and may judge yourself severely and harshly for your self-perceived flaws. You may be at a normal weight or even a bit overweight. Binge-eating disorder When you have binge-eating disorder, you regularly eat too much food (binge) and feel a lack of control over your eating. You may eat quickly or eat more food than intended, even when you're not hungry, and you may continue eating even long after you're uncomfortably full. After a binge, you may feel guilty, disgusted or ashamed by your behavior and the amount of food eaten. But you don't try to compensate for this behavior with excessive exercise or purging, as someone with bulimia or anorexia might. Embarrassment can lead to eating alone to hide your bingeing. A new round of bingeing usually occurs at least once a week. You may be normal weight, overweight or obese. Rumination disorder Rumination disorder is repeatedly and persistently regurgitating food after eating, but it's not due to a medical condition or another eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia or binge-eating disorder. Food is brought back up into the mouth without nausea or gagging, and regurgitation may not be intentional. Sometimes regurgitated food is rechewed and reswallowed or spit out. The disorder may result in malnutrition if the food is spit out or if the person eats significantly less to prevent the behavior. The occurrence of rumination disorder may be more common in infancy or in people who have an intellectual disability. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder This disorder is characterized by failing to meet your minimum daily nutrition requirements because you don't have an interest in eating; you avoid food with certain sensory characteristics, such as color, texture, smell or taste; or you're concerned about the consequences of eating, such as fear of choking. Food is not avoided because of fear of gaining weight. The disorder can result in significant weight loss or failure to gain weight in childhood, as well as nutritional deficiencies that can cause health problems.
symptoms vary  depending type eating disorder  anorexia nervosa  bulimia nervosa binge-eating disorder common eating disorders  eating disorders include rumination disorder avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder  anorexia nervosa anorexia (an-o-rek-see-uh) nervosa — simply called anorexia — potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized abnormally low body weight  intense fear gaining weight  distorted perception weight shape  people anorexia extreme efforts control weight shape  significantly interferes health life activities  anorexia  excessively limit calories methods lose weight  excessive exercise  using laxatives diet aids  vomiting eating  efforts reduce weight  underweight  can cause severe health problems  point deadly self-starvation  bulimia nervosa bulimia (boo-lee-me-uh) nervosa — commonly called bulimia — serious  potentially life-threatening eating disorder  bulimia  episodes bingeing purging involve feeling lack control eating  people bulimia restrict eating day  leads binge eating purging  episodes  typically eat large amount food short time  try rid extra calories unhealthy way  guilt  shame intense fear weight gain overeating  may force vomiting may exercise methods  laxatives  rid calories  bulimia  you're preoccupied weight body shape  may judge severely harshly self-perceived flaws  may normal weight bit overweight  binge-eating disorder binge-eating disorder  regularly eat food (binge) feel lack control eating  may eat quickly eat food intended  you're hungry  may continue eating long you're uncomfortably full  binge  may feel guilty  disgusted ashamed behavior amount food eaten  don't try compensate behavior excessive exercise purging  bulimia anorexia might  embarrassment can lead eating alone hide bingeing  new round bingeing occurs least once week  may normal weight  overweight obese  rumination disorder rumination disorder repeatedly persistently regurgitating food eating  it's due medical condition eating disorder anorexia  bulimia binge-eating disorder  food brought back mouth nausea gagging  regurgitation may intentional  regurgitated food rechewed reswallowed spit out  disorder may result malnutrition food spit person eats significantly prevent behavior  occurrence rumination disorder may common infancy people who intellectual disability  avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder disorder characterized meet minimum daily nutrition requirements don't interest eating; avoid food sensory characteristics  color  texture  smell taste; you're concerned consequences eating  fear choking  food avoided fear gaining weight  disorder can result significant weight loss failure gain weight childhood  well nutritional deficiencies can cause health problems
eating disorders