Before going into the results of my project, let me first share my research with you. By giving you some foundational information on what disordered eating is, how it impacts our health, and strategies for reducing or preventing disordered eating in people, I am able to extend my teaching and also help to ensure that we are all on the same page in regards to terminology, previous research and studies, strategies, etc.
For the purpose of this project, an eating disorder is defined as an umbrella term for psychological disorders that pertain to an unhealthy relationship between a person and food. These unhealthy relationships are characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating behaviours, which include restricting, starving, binging, and more.
There are many types of eating disorders, but the most common and/or well-known ones are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge/compulsive eating. There are also eating disorders that have been coined as “eating disorder not otherwise specified”, commonly referred to by its acronym of EDNOS. These eating disorders are ones that do not quite fit into the categories of anorexia, bulimia, or binge/compulsive eating but still involve a pattern of abnormal or disturbed eating behaviours and/or relationships with food.
For the purpose of this project, an eating disorder is defined as an umbrella term for psychological disorders that pertain to an unhealthy relationship between a person and food. These unhealthy relationships are characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating behaviours, which include restricting, starving, binging, and more.
There are many types of eating disorders, but the most common and/or well-known ones are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge/compulsive eating. There are also eating disorders that have been coined as “eating disorder not otherwise specified”, commonly referred to by its acronym of EDNOS. These eating disorders are ones that do not quite fit into the categories of anorexia, bulimia, or binge/compulsive eating but still involve a pattern of abnormal or disturbed eating behaviours and/or relationships with food.
Anorexia Nervosa
One of the primary identifiers of anorexia is a person’s intense, and often irrational, fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. This is often accompanied with a distorted self-image, an obsession with weight, and a fear of food and/or eating. There are many behaviours that a person with anorexia may have, some of which include restricting food intake, obsessively counting calories, exercising intensely, self-induced vomiting, and misusing laxatives. It is common for anorexia to lead to another eating disorder, such as bulimia. A person with anorexia is typically below-average weight; if a person is average or above-average weight, they will likely be diagnosed with atypical anorexia nervosa or anorexia nervosa type (explained further below).
An ED similar to anorexia is “avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder”, otherwise known as ARFID. While both disorders involve the person restricting food intake and/or avoiding food, ARFID is not characterized by a fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. Unlike anorexia, a person with ARFID is not distressed about their body shape or weight. However, if left untreated, ARFID may very well develop into anorexia or bulimia.
An ED similar to anorexia is “avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder”, otherwise known as ARFID. While both disorders involve the person restricting food intake and/or avoiding food, ARFID is not characterized by a fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. Unlike anorexia, a person with ARFID is not distressed about their body shape or weight. However, if left untreated, ARFID may very well develop into anorexia or bulimia.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia is characterized by a person’s pattern of restricting food, binging, and then purging. As such, bulimia is often associated with anorexia and a person with bulimia typically has a history of anorexia.
A person will often restrict food (similar to anorexia or ARFID), but they end up binge eating. Binge eating, or binging, is the act of a person losing control of how much food they are consuming and ultimately consume such a large amount of food in a short period of time that they are physically uncomfortable. While a “loss of control” is subjective and the amount of food/calories consumed will vary from person to person, it is not uncommon for these binges to be anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000+ calories in a single sitting.
After binging, the person will then attempt to purge the calories they consumed. Purging is an attempt to compensate for food intake or prevent weight gain associated with the binge eating, and purging can be done in a variety of different ways. While some of the most common methods are self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, other methods involve excessive exercise, fasting, severe food restriction, etc.
A person will often restrict food (similar to anorexia or ARFID), but they end up binge eating. Binge eating, or binging, is the act of a person losing control of how much food they are consuming and ultimately consume such a large amount of food in a short period of time that they are physically uncomfortable. While a “loss of control” is subjective and the amount of food/calories consumed will vary from person to person, it is not uncommon for these binges to be anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000+ calories in a single sitting.
After binging, the person will then attempt to purge the calories they consumed. Purging is an attempt to compensate for food intake or prevent weight gain associated with the binge eating, and purging can be done in a variety of different ways. While some of the most common methods are self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, other methods involve excessive exercise, fasting, severe food restriction, etc.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating is a relatively newer disorder that is being diagnosed, but it has been around for much longer. Previously, it was either associated with bulimia or not taken seriously, but it is now classified as its own eating disorder. Unlike bulimia, binge eating disorder is not associated with any form of purging.
Binging is the act of a person losing control of what they eat or how much they are eating, and they eat such a large amount of food that they are physically uncomfortable. In other words, they go beyond their body’s needs and end up putting themselves in pain or extreme discomfort. While most people overeat from time to time (such as during family dinners, special occasions, etc.), people with binge eating disorder do it on a regular basis and to a much greater extent.
Binging is the act of a person losing control of what they eat or how much they are eating, and they eat such a large amount of food that they are physically uncomfortable. In other words, they go beyond their body’s needs and end up putting themselves in pain or extreme discomfort. While most people overeat from time to time (such as during family dinners, special occasions, etc.), people with binge eating disorder do it on a regular basis and to a much greater extent.
EDNOS
EDNOS occurs and/or is diagnosed when a person has disturbed eating habits that may be similar to the above disorders but do not quite meet all of the criteria. There are a variety of different types of EDNOSs, some of which are:
Atypical Anorexia Nervosa or Anorexia Nervosa Type: Despite meeting all of the same criteria as anorexia, the different for this ED is that the person is considered normal or above-average weight, whereas people with anorexia are below-average weight. This often occurs when the person started at a higher than average weight and has lost a significant enough amount of weight.
Binge Eating Disorder Type: This disorder still involves periods of binge eating, but they are less frequent. Whereas someone with binge eating disorder may binge on a frequent basis (more than once a week), a person with this type of EDNOS will often binge less than once a week.
Night Eating Syndrome: This syndrome involves a person eating an excessive amount of food after waking up at night and/or after their evening meal (such as dinner). While “midnight snacks” are not uncommon, night eating syndrome involves eating such a large amount of food that it could be classified as an additional meal.
Purging Disorder: This disorder involves frequent purging (excessive exercising, self-induced vomiting, etc.) despite the lack of binging. While bulimia involves restricting, binging, and then purging, this disorder involves either restricting or eating normally followed by purging.
Atypical Anorexia Nervosa or Anorexia Nervosa Type: Despite meeting all of the same criteria as anorexia, the different for this ED is that the person is considered normal or above-average weight, whereas people with anorexia are below-average weight. This often occurs when the person started at a higher than average weight and has lost a significant enough amount of weight.
Binge Eating Disorder Type: This disorder still involves periods of binge eating, but they are less frequent. Whereas someone with binge eating disorder may binge on a frequent basis (more than once a week), a person with this type of EDNOS will often binge less than once a week.
Night Eating Syndrome: This syndrome involves a person eating an excessive amount of food after waking up at night and/or after their evening meal (such as dinner). While “midnight snacks” are not uncommon, night eating syndrome involves eating such a large amount of food that it could be classified as an additional meal.
Purging Disorder: This disorder involves frequent purging (excessive exercising, self-induced vomiting, etc.) despite the lack of binging. While bulimia involves restricting, binging, and then purging, this disorder involves either restricting or eating normally followed by purging.