Eating Disorders Anorexia
Those with Eating disorders anorexia constantly try to keep their body weight as low as they can. As with most eating Disorders; this is often done through not eating much or at all and over-exercising.
People with anorexia can become dangerously ill. They begin to starve. They will often carry a distorted view of their own bodies and will still think that they’re fat. Even when at a dangerously low level of body fat.
Anyone can develop anorexia. But it’s most commonly found in teenage and younger women.
The effects caused by starvation can be irreversible. With anorexia carrying a real risk of death. Potential long-term health problems associated with the disorder include infertility, brain damage, and heart attacks.
If the condition remains untreated for an extended period of time, Then there’s an increased chance of severe long-term risks. Even life-threatening health problems. Becoming a major issue for the sufferer.
Eating Disorders Bulimia
Bulimia affects people in a way that makes them obsessively and drastically attempt to lose weight. This following periods of binge eating.
Those with bulimia often make themselves vomit. They take laxatives, and carry out an excessive amount of exercise in order to prevent weight gain. Again this is a condition that can affect men and women of all ages. But is most common among younger women.
Those with bulimia might eventually see various health problems develop. This is due to a lack of nutrients over an extended period of time.
These can be anything from tiredness. dental problems. Also from regular vomiting, irregular periods,. Also dry skin, brittle and weak fingernails, fits. With various organ problems, and bone issues.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder, or BED, involves the out-of-control consumption of large amounts of food. Sometimes until the person is full to an uncomfortable level. These binges can be planned in advance almost like a ritual. With particular foods bought especially. This often has the effect of making the person feel guilty, shameful and disgusted after the binge.
All types of people suffer from this disorder, with symptoms most typically found in late teenagers or those in their early twenties.
BED is not at all about eating big portions of food, and sufferers often find the binges incredibly distressing with it being difficult to stop eating during a binge.
Some people with the condition have described themselves as feeling detached from the process throughout a binge. In a few cases not being able to later remember what they have eaten.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder
People are diagnosed with Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OFSED) . When their symptoms don’t match with the psychological, behavioural, and physical symptoms. Like bulimia, anorexia, and BED carry respectively.
OFSED is a serious condition too, accounting for a large number of diagnosed eating disorders. Those with the condition might try to hide the extent of their illness. Most of the symptoms expected in bulimia, anorexia, and BED can be found if someone suffering with OFSED. Carrying all of the associated risks these disorders bring.
OFSED: is used to describe several eating disorders, such as:
Purging Disorder
Purging disorder is a recently recognised eating disorder where people, who have a normal or lower than average weight. They purge following eating rather than with bulimia where people binge-eat before purging. People who suffer from purging disorder do not binge.
Night Eating Syndrome
Night eating syndrome is where the individual consumes a disproportionate amount of food in the evening or at nighttime. The amount of food eaten doesn’t have to be a large amount, nor does it require a loss of control. Sufferers aren’t necessarily binge eaters (although they often can be).
Those who have night eating syndrome can often be overweight or obese.
Atypical Anorexia
Someone with atypical anorexia has many of the same symptoms as the anorexia sufferer,. Without the same level of weight loss and can have a healthy weight. A person who is struggling with atypical anorexia might show an extreme fear that they are overweight. Hence resorting to abnormal and irregular feeding and eating behaviour.
This can lead to excessive calorie counting, changes in behaviour with regards to mealtimes and social occasions involving food, and increased secrecy surrounding their eating behaviour.
Eating disorders affect people of all descriptions
If you, or the people around you, are concerned that you carry any kind of unhealthy relationship with food that has an impact on your eating habits, then you might have an eating disorder.
You can call our hotline at 0800 1182892 for a strictly confidential chat with one of our friendly and experienced team, who will offer further guidance, information, and advice at no cost to you.
You can also email us at help@serenity.org.uk, or contact us directly through our website by filling out the form. Personal information is retained in complete confidentiality by us. We only seek to help and inform those who get in touch.