What type of eating disorder is bulimia nervosa

The earlier an eating disorder is identified, and a person can access treatment, the greater the opportunity for recovery or improved quality of life. Bulimia nervosa frequently begins during or after a period of dieting.

A person with bulimia nervosa will experience a sense of lack of control and will eat a large amount of food within a relatively short period of time. The person will often feel guilt and shame during or after the episode and will engage in compensatory behaviours with the intention to prevent weight gain. Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening mental illness. Bulimia nervosa is characterised by recurrent episodes of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviours, such as vomiting or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain.

A person with bulimia nervosa can become stuck in a cycle of eating in an out-of-control manner, followed by attempts to compensate for this, which can lead to feelings of shame, guilt and disgust. These behaviours can become more compulsive and uncontrollable over time, and lead to an obsession with food, thoughts about eating or not eating , weight loss, dieting and body image. These behaviours are often concealed and people with bulimia nervosa may attempt to keep their eating and exercise habits secret.

As a result, bulimia nervosa may go undetected for a long period of time. Compensatory behaviours are used as a way of trying to prevent weight gain after binge eating episodes.

They include:. Self-evaluation A person with bulimia nervosa places an excessive emphasis on body shape or weight in their self-evaluation. The elements that contribute to the development of bulimia nervosa are complex, and involve a range of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

Any person, at any stage of their life, is at risk of developing an eating disorder. The best way to combat bulimia and increase the likelihood of long-term recovery is early intervention. This begins with early detection through awareness of signs and symptoms. Bulimia Nervosa is an intensely physical disorder, resulting in apparent changes to the body that can warn an individual is struggling, such as:. Behavioral red flags of bulimia are not as easily identifiable as the physical listed above; however, it is still possible to recognize behavioral changes that could indicate a problem, for example:.

The body is created to consume food, absorb the necessary nutrients, and then get rid of what is not needed for optimal body functioning.

It is not surprising then that bulimic behaviors result in serious long-term consequences to the physical functioning of the body, which include:. As with most mental illnesses and eating disorders, there is no one cause of bulimia nervosa. There are a few genetic and biological factors that are associated with the development of bulimia nervosa, such as:.

Rumination disorder is another newly recognized eating disorder. It describes a condition in which a person regurgitates food they have previously chewed and swallowed, re-chews it, and then either re-swallows it or spits it out This rumination typically occurs within the first 30 minutes after a meal.

This disorder can develop during infancy, childhood, or adulthood. In infants, it tends to develop between 3—12 months of age and often disappears on its own.

Children and adults with the condition usually require therapy to resolve it. If not resolved in infants, rumination disorder can result in weight loss and severe malnutrition that can be fatal. Adults with this disorder may restrict the amount of food they eat, especially in public. This may lead them to lose weight and become underweight 8 , Summary Rumination disorder can affect people at all stages of life. Then, they chew it again and either swallow it or spit it out.

Individuals with this disorder experience disturbed eating either due to a lack of interest in eating or distaste for certain smells, tastes, colors, textures, or temperatures.

Moreover, it does not include the avoidance or restriction of foods due to lack of availability or religious or cultural practices. This is either due to a lack of interest in food or an intense distaste for how certain foods look, smell, or taste.

In addition to the six eating disorders above, less-known or less common eating disorders also exist. These generally fall under one of three categories 8 :. Although increasingly mentioned in the media and scientific studies, orthorexia has yet to be recognized as a separate eating disorder by the current DSM. Individuals with orthorexia tend to have an obsessive focus on healthy eating, to an extent that disrupts their daily lives.

This can lead to malnutrition, severe weight loss, difficulty eating outside the home, and emotional distress. Individuals with orthorexia rarely focus on losing weight. Instead, their self-worth, identity, or satisfaction is dependent upon how well they comply with their self-imposed diet rules Summary Purging disorder and night eating syndrome are two additional eating disorders that are currently not well described.

The categories above are meant to provide a better understanding of the most common eating disorders and dispel myths about them. Eating disorders are mental health conditions that usually require treatment. They can also be damaging to the body if left untreated. If you have an eating disorder or know someone that might have one, seek help from a healthcare practitioner that specializes in eating disorders. You can book an appointment with an eating disorder specialist in your area using our Healthline FindCare tool.

Its current publication date reflects an update, which includes a medical review by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD. Eating disorders can happen at any age, but social stigma keeps some older women from seeking help. Purging disorder is an eating disorder characterized by the compulsion to purge after consuming food. Was the page helpful? Continue reading Do I have an eating disorder? My recovery journey. Stories of Recovery. Subscribe to our Recovery or Carer newsletters Recovery from an eating disorder isn't always linear.

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