The Different Types of Eating Disorders: Do You Recognize Any of These Symptoms?

We live in a time where “health” marketers and influencers have used destructive dietary memes to manipulatively, or unintentionally, reinforce their protocols and restrictive nutritional practices. Concerningly, these current popularized approaches to nutrition, health, and fitness, if not scrutinized, could be perpetuating and fueling health anxiety, false anxiety, and eating disorders.

The rise in the prevalence of eating disorders is alarming. According to John Hopkins University:

…many members of the mental health community (including me) have become increasingly concerned about dramatic rises in eating disorder (ED) symptoms that have been reported both in the United States and globally…

… The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) has reported increases as high as 107% in calls to its helpline at different points in the past two years.

The article further details the dangers of how two specific factors, messaging on social media and the impact of stress from the world’s crises, are contributing to eating disorders (ED). As noted previously, eating disorders are complex and have multiple biological, genetic, brain health, and psychosocial components that contribute to them. I believe that the underlying reason that social media can be so harmful to ED is that it reflects many diet culture beliefs.

A first step to combating this disturbing trend is awareness and education.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been discussing diet and wellness culture, food addiction, and eating disorders.

In my first post on eating disorders, I provided an overview and some statistics on them.  Next, I reviewed specific risk factors and characteristics of eating disorders.

Now, in the remainder of this series, I will give a summary of each type of eating disorder based on several references.

In my latest article and video:

• I provide a general overview of emotional and physical symptoms of eating disorders.
• I discuss specific characteristics, diagnostic criteria, and signs and symptoms of several types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia, and bulimia nervosa.
• I give some solutions and resources on how to better treat eating disorders.

By listing out the symptoms of disordered eating patterns and these mental health categories in black and white, I’m hoping to provide a wake-up call to many.

Perhaps, on review of my post, you may find that you or someone you love has some of these ED characteristics and needs additional support.

Click here to learn more.

If you need help, or are questioning if you do, don’t hesitate to get it…with the right expert. (See resources in the link provided.)

Integrative doctors, who are not part of diet culture, can provide additional assistance on the biological, physiological, neurological, and psychosocial levels as one seeks the psychological interventions necessary.

Please read this article and share it widely.

*Important Note:

If you struggle with mental health or an eating disorder, please reach out for support.

You may also wish to consider implementing holistic resources and partnering with a naturopathic doctor.

For example, I offer mind-body support for general mood issues using a functional medicine and wellness-oriented approach. I also practice a non-diet, HAES approach to nutrition.