Eating Disorders: What You Need To Know?

Eating disorders fall under behavioral conditions which are characterized by persistence disturbance in eating behaviors. The patient can even develop distressing thoughts and emotions associated with their eating behaviors. It can be a serious condition that can affect physical, psychological and social functions of a person. 

Different types of eating disorders:

• Anorexia nervosa

• Bulimia nervosa

• Binge eating disorder

• Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder

• Other specified feeding or eating disorder

Pica and rumination disorder can also be a type of eating disorder. 

A large proportion of population gets affected by this condition, and most often people develop this disorder in their adolescence and young adulthood. While eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are quite common in women, but they can all occur at any age and affect any gender. Eating disorders are driven by preoccupations with food, weight or shape, as well as anxiety about eating or the effect of eating certain food items. 

Certain behaviors are associated with eating disorders and include binge eating, avoidance of certain foods, laxative misuse, purging by vomiting, compulsive exercise, etc. These behaviors come out in ways that appear like addiction. 

It is to note that eating disorders can even co-occur with certain psychiatric disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders, alcohol and substance use disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders etc. Eating disorders can lead to malnutrition or obesity and several other problems associated with these conditions. 

Treatment for eating disorders has to be planned in a way to address psychological, behavioral nutritional and other medical conditions. 

Sometimes identifying eating disorders are difficult, but when people around someone notices certain change in eating pattern or there are health problems, it is important to consult an expert. 

Inner Lemon Therapy provides help in eating disorders and other psychological problems led by intense emotions, generational gaps and other events happening in life.