5 TYPES OF EATING DISORDERS YOU NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR

Anorexia nervosa, a mental disorder, involves individuals seeing themselves as overweight while being dangerously thin. It's characterized by severe food restriction, an intense fear of weight gain, a distorted body image, and, in females, the absence of three consecutive menstrual periods.

This disorder features recurring overeating episodes followed by weight-control actions like vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use. Symptoms include frequent binge eating, a sense of loss of control during these episodes, and evidence of post-meal bathroom visits and disposal of packaging for weight-control products.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) resembles bulimia but doesn't involve purging behaviors. It's characterized by consuming large amounts of food rapidly, feeling a loss of control during binges, eating when not hungry, and experiencing guilt or shame afterward.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) differs from other eating disorders as it isn't related to body image concerns. Those with ARFID restrict their food intake due to aversions to taste, texture, smell, or appearance of certain foods. Symptoms involve limited eating not tied to food availability or cultural factors, leading to substantial weight loss.

Pica is characterized by the consumption of non-nutritive, non-food items like soil, chalk, or hair, persisting for at least a month and being developmentally inappropriate.