Types of Eating Disorders
There are copious numbers of eating disorders and, unfortunately, the statistics mentioned above don’t begin to scratch the surface. Here are few examples of eating disorders:
- Anorexia Nervosa: People reduce the amount of energy intake required for their weight, age, gender, development and physical health.
- Bulimia Nervosa: Individuals consume large amounts of food, and then induce themselves to vomit to stop weight gain.
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Eating large amounts of food in small periods of time.
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) 14: Children are not just finicky when it comes to this disorder, but they become malnourished because they restrict themselves from eating certain foods.
- Diabulimia: People with Type 1 diabetes purposely underuse insulin to control their weight.
Treatment Methods
Like other mental disorders and illnesses, care should involve a diverse team of experts. It’s recommended that professional caretakers include the following:
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Dietician
- Primary care physician
- Psychiatrist
Due to the severe toll that eating disorders may have on an individual’s physical health, psychological therapy is not enough. It’s also important, if possible, to incorporate family therapy and support groups. Family-Based Treatment, according to NEDA, is a method used for patients who are minors.
In severe cases, inpatient care may be necessary; the person suffering from the eating disorder will be hospitalized or placed in residential care.
Body Image
Body image is the mental representation that one creates in their mind, but it may or may not relate to how others see an individual. The skewed view that someone has of their body is a culprit affecting people across the globe, where ethnicity, culture, gender, and age may all fall prey to it. According to ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders), about 30 million Americans suffer from some sort of eating disorder. Eating disorders hold a record for having the highest mortality rate when compared to other mental illnesses; someone dies of an eating disorder every 62 minutes.
Eating disorders are complex illnesses with a variety of contributing factors including biological, psychological and social factors. You cannot always determine if a person is struggling with an eating disorder just by looking at them. Having an eating disorder is a problem that affects a person's physical and mental health and can cause serious harm or even death. Individuals with eating disorders struggle with eating behaviors as well as their attitudes and feelings about food, weight and shape. They can also struggle emotionally as well as in their relationships and life in general. It is so important to get help from someone who specializes in treating these disorders.
At Stacy Vollands Counseling & Recovery, we treat Anorexia, Bulimia, OSFED (Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder), ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Feeding and Eating Disorder), and generalized disordered eating as well as body image distress.
Although these disorders are difficult to treat, healing is definitely possible. With proper treatment, those with eating disorders can resume healthy habits and recover their emotional, physical , social and psychological health. It is possible for someone struggling with these issues to heal their relationship with food, eating, exercise and their bodies.
Treatment for eating disorders can include psychological, behavioral, nutritional and even medical treatment. The gold standard for eating disorder treatment is to have a therapist, a dietician, a medical doctor and even a psychiatrist for medication management. So your therapist will be part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team. You can talk with your therapist and get referrals for providers who specialize in eating disorders in each of these additional disciplines.
When an individual is struggling with an eating disorder, it can affect the entire family. We also offer help for the family using Family Based Therapy for Anorexia and Emotion Focused Family Therapy for any eating disorder. Your therapist may recommend one of these types of therapy depending on the unique needs of the individual in therapy.