Why is eating disorders important

The binge eating is chronic and can lead to serious health complications, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The diagnosis of binge eating disorder requires frequent binges at least once a week for three months , associated with a sense of lack of control and with three or more of the following features:.

As with bulimia nervosa, the most effective treatment for binge eating disorder is cognitive behavioral psychotherapy for binge eating. Interpersonal therapy has also been shown to be effective, as have several antidepressant medications. Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder. This diagnostic category includes eating disorders or disturbances of eating behavior that cause distress and impair family, social or work function but do not fit the other categories listed here.

In some cases, this is because the frequency of the behavior dose not meet the diagnostic threshold e. This category includes individuals who may have lost a lot of weight and whose behaviors and degree of fear of fatness is consistent with anorexia nervosa, but who are not yet considered underweight based on their BMI because their baseline weight was above average. Since speed of weight loss is related to medical complications, individuals who lose a lot of weight rapidly by engaging in extreme weight control behaviors can be at high risk of medical complications, even if they appear normal or above average weight.

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. The diagnosis of ARFID requires that difficulties with eating are associated with one or more of the following:.

The impact on physical and psychological health and degree of malnutrition can be similar to that seen in people with anorexia nervosa.

However, people with ARFID do not have excessive concerns about their body weight or shape and the disorder is distinct from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. ARFID does not include food restriction related to lack of availability of food; normal dieting; cultural practices, such as religious fasting; or developmentally normal behaviors, such as toddlers who are picky eaters. Food avoidance or restriction commonly develops in infancy or early childhood and may continue in adulthood.

It can however start at any age. Regardless of the age of the person affected, ARFID can impact families, causing increased stress at mealtimes and in other social eating situations. Treatment for ARFID involves an individualized plan and may involve several specialists including a mental health professional, a registered dietitian nutritionist, and others.

Pica is an eating disorder in which a person repeatedly eats things that are not food with no nutritional value. The behavior persists over for at least one month and is severe enough to warrant clinical attention.

Typical substances ingested vary with age and availability and might include paper, paint chips, soap, cloth, hair, string, chalk, metal, pebbles, charcoal or coal, or clay.

Individuals with pica do not typically have an aversion to food in general. The behavior is inappropriate to the developmental level of the individual and is not part of a culturally supported practice. Pica may first occur in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood, although childhood onset is most common. It is not diagnosed in children under age 2.

Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are bio-psycho-social diseases — not fads, phases, or lifestyle choices. Eating disorders affect both men and women, even though they are often thought of as disorders pertaining mostly to women.

Men and women both feel pressure to look a certain way, which can influence the development of an eating disorder. They are life consuming. Thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors regarding weight and food issues are constant for those with eating disorders, and it can make it impossible to live a normal life. Eating food is more complicated for those with eating disorders. Those with eating disorders analyze the food they are eating, and it affects the way that they live.

People with Type 1 are born with the problem and cannot fix it by a change in lifestyle. Their bodies do not make enough insulin. They have to give themselves an injection of insulin every day to keep their blood sugar down. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood.

People with Type 1 diabetes are at increased risk of developing an eating disorder. It may be because they have to pay more attention to food and changes in their weight. People with Type 1 diabetes need to watch their insulin levels very carefully and eat in a way that keeps their blood sugar in the normal range.

Some people misuse their insulin in order to try to control their weight. You can develop Type 2 diabetes as a side effect of being overweight or as a result of disordered eating habits.

Their bodies make insulin, but their blood sugar still stays very high. Diabetes can also affect how a health professional treats an eating disorder. For people who have both diabetes and an eating disorder, it is important to co-ordinate diabetes care and mental health treatment.

They also can provide support during treatment and can be a great ally to both the individual and the health care provider. Research suggests that incorporating the family into treatment for eating disorders can improve treatment outcomes, particularly for adolescents. Treatment plans for eating disorders include psychotherapy, medical care and monitoring, nutritional counseling, medications, or a combination of these approaches.

Typical treatment goals include:. People with eating disorders also may have other mental disorders such as depression or anxiety or problems with substance use. Research also suggests that medications may help treat some eating disorders and co-occurring anxiety or depression related to eating disorders. Information about medications changes frequently, so talk to your health care provider. Visit the U. If you're unsure where to get help, your health care provider is a good place to start.

Your health care provider can refer you to a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, who has experience treating eating disorders. For additional resources, visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website. NIMH supports a wide range of research, including clinical trials that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions, including eating disorders.

Although individuals may benefit from being part of a clinical trial, participants should be aware that the primary purpose of a clinical trial is to gain new scientific knowledge so that others may be better helped in the future. Researchers at NIMH and around the country conduct clinical trials with patients and healthy volunteers. Talk to your health care provider about clinical trials, their benefits and risks, and whether one is right for you.

For more information about clinical research and how to find clinical trials being conducted around the country, visit NIMH's clinical trials webpage. This publication is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from NIMH.

Citation of NIMH as a source is appreciated. Statistics NIMH statistics pages include statistics on the prevalence, treatment, and costs of mental illness for the population of the United States. Help for Mental Illnesses If you or someone you know has a mental illness, there are ways to get help.

Clinical Trials If you or a friend or family member are thinking about taking part in clinical research, this page contains basic information about clinical trials.