Types of Eating Disorders
Yes, I know. Every website you've ever seen has this page. Well, here it is again.
Anorexia Nervosa:
Characterized by starvation, or severe restriction of calories, usually coupled with excessive exercise. Usually underweight, may induce vomiting (occassionally), abuse laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, etc.
Bulimia Nervosa:
Anything perceived as a binge (can range from almost nothing, to thousands of calories) is purged. Purging may be done by inducing vomiting, but can also be abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, or excessive exercise. Bulimics' weights tend to fluctuate.
Compulsive Over-Eating/Binge-eating disorder:
This is much like a food-addiction. Because eating can increase serotonin levels, it becomes a way to relieve stress/pain. Soon it becomes an all-too-common coping mechanism, and the sufferer begins to lose the ability to differentiate between being hungry, not being hungry, or being satiated. A very misunderstood and debilitating disorder. Statements like "S/He would be so much thinner if s/he'd just STOP EATING," only make bingers feel worse, because if it truly is a disorder, they really can't stop eating. Even worse- statements like that might just trigger another binge, and therefore another drop in self-esteem. Living testament to the old "I eat because I'm fat, and I'm fat because I eat." It's a vicious cycle.
Orthorexia Nervosa:
This disorder is characterized by an obsession with healthy food- beyond the label of "health food junkie" An orthorexic cannot eat without worrying about whether the food is good for them. Can be similar to anorexia, in that extreme control is exercised in what they eat and portion sizes. Some orthorexics can lose so much weight that they will appear to be anorexic. Orthorexics have a strict diet, and any failure to adhere to their diet will result in extreme feelings of failure/worthlessness.
ED-NOS:
(Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified)
This is an actual diagnosis. This is given to anyone who doesn't quite fit into any category. It's simpler if I just copy/paste-- this website phrases it well.
-A person who severely restricts food intake but is not yet underweight by DSM-IV standards
-A female who meets all other criteria for anorexia but continues to have regular menstrual periods.
-Someone who binges and purges but does not meet the frequency or duration requirements for a diagnosis of bulimia
-Someone who regularly purges after eating regular amounts of food, but is not yet "clinically underweight."
-Someone who regularly chews food and spits it out without swallowing, but does not meet the criteria for either bulimia or anorexia.
-Any individual who is recovering from or just about to enter one of the "specified" eating disorders.
Sources:
http://www.angelfire.com/il2/figskating/issues/ednos.html
http://www.pamf.org/teen/life/bodyimage/orthorexia.html
http://www.orthorexia.com/index.php?page=katef