Eating Disorder Treatment & Different Types of Eating Disorders

Read all about the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, to the different types of food disorders in our eating disorder treatment guide below.

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When you think of eating disorders, the first thing that always pops in our head is either anorexia or bulimia. And although they might be the most common types of eating disorders out there, there are plenty of other ones as well. So read on to know all about each of the different types of eating disorders.

So, if you know someone who has signs or symptoms of any of the following food disorders, you’ll know they need immediate eating disorder treatment. Or if you yourself are struggling with food disorder issues, you’ll know what eating disorder help to get. The path to eating disorder recovery may be hard and challenging. But with the will and commitment, you’re only a few steps away from a healthy & happy life!

Types of Eating Disorders & Eating Disorder Treatment

1. Anorexia Nervosa

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Anorexia is an eating disorder where the person has a mindset that they’re overweight despite being extremely, dangerously underweight. So, for people with this food disorder, the biggest fear is gaining weight. And in order to not do so, they cut down on their food intake. Extreme weight loss, constant dizziness, dry skin, thinning hair and insomnia are some symptoms of anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia treatment options include talk therapy sessions, constant check-ups and supervised weight gaining for mild cases. For extreme cases however, either a hospital or at-home residential eating disorder treatment is ideal.

2. Bulimia Nervosa

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In the perfection-obsessed world that we live in today, bulimia is another one of the popular types of eating disorders. It involves binge-eating followed by purging, where all the food eaten is removed from the body by vomiting or using laxatives and diuretics. This cycle of over-eating and attempts to purge is very dangerous and unhealthy.

Bulimia eating disorder signs to look for are frequent weight changes, irregular menstrual cycle, swollen cheeks and jaws from vomiting, and fatigue. Another factor commonly associated with bulimia is the inability to digest, where the patient has the consistent urge to use the restroom for purging food right after consuming their meal.

Behavioral counselling, psychotherapy and prescribed medicines are common eating disorder treatment methods for bulimia. In more serious cases, extreme dehydration from frequent purging may occur. And admission to a hospital or eating disorder treatment centers for bulimia recovery is essential.

3. Rumination

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This food disorder is more common in infants and children than adults. It’s an eating disorder where food which has already been swallowed is brought back up, re-chewed, and swallowed again. And in some case, the person may just spit it out instead of swallowing again. Some symptoms are chapped lips, repeated regurgitation & re-chewing of food, weight loss, stomach pains and indigestion.

As rumination is not that serious of an issue, there is no need to visit eating disorder treatment facilities. Self-help programs for the mother & child and aversive therapy are recommended. Also, giving more attention to the child and making eating more enjoyable for them are some rumination eating disorder treatment methods.

4. Pica Eating Disorder

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Pica is a food disorder where people develop an appetite for inedible substances like paper, glass, chalk, grass, hair, paint, etc. It’s more common among people with mental health issues, children and pregnant women. Pica is a very severe condition and requires immediate eating disorder treatment programs. And it could lead to complications like intestinal blockages, choking and parasitic infections. It may also result in the development of kidney stones. Medications combined with therapy is a popular pica eating disorder treatment method.

5. Selective Eating Disorder

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This food disorder is also known as Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (AFRID). It occurs when a person restricts themselves from or is unable to eat certain foods. And it could be based on the smell, texture or appearance of the food. So, some may eat just green colored food, some may eat only cold things and some may eat just crunchy food. Treatment for selective eating disorder includes cognitive therapy and at-home treatment.

6. Night Eating Disorder

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This eating disorder involves frequent late-night eating and very less food intake during the daytime. With no control over their eating habits, people in this category will usually become overweight or obese. Binge-eating at night frequently can also cause gallbladder stones. Counselling and exercise physiology from health professionals are the treatment methods for nighttime eating disorder.

7. Binge-Eating Disorder

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Eating large quantities of food way too often and way too fast are the binge eating disorder criteria. It’s most common among people with depression. Depression can lead to either not eating at all or over-eating. So, becoming overweight and obese are some binge-eating physical side-effects. A typical binge eating recovery plan would include interpersonal psychotherapy and medications like antidepressants and anticonvulsants.

For more in-depth binge-eating disorder information, be on the lookout for our upcoming article!

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8. Orthorexia Eating Disorder

An extreme obsession with eating what the person considers healthy is known as orthorexia. And in the hopes of being super fit and healthy by avoiding certain foods, the person misses out on certain nutrients. And it doesn’t just stop at harmful eating behaviors. Their extreme OCD may even consist of washing veggies excessively and sterilization of utensils. It’s common in people with bi-polar disorders, OCD, PTSD, substance abuse and depression. So, one-on-one sessions with eating disorder specialists would be helpful for this food disorder.

9. EDNOS Disorder

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It stands for Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. A person with EDNOS has a combination of other eating disorder symptoms. Most commonly, bulimia, anorexia nervosa and binge-eating. EDNOS recovery requires an eating disorder treatment plan based on the diagnosis of the different symptoms. Like with other types of eating disorders, EDNOS eating disorder requires a combination of talk therapy and medication, too.

So that was all about eating disorder treatment and types. And what are your opinions of eating disorder treatment? Do you know or have you known someone who has an eating disorder? And do feel free to share your story in the comments below to inspire our readers or tell us by tweeting @shilpa1ahuja!

Also read:

– Alcohol Withdrawal: Symptoms, Treatment, Medications, FAQs & More
– Famous Recovering Alcoholics: Celebrity Addicts & Alcoholic Success Stories
Eating Disorder Help & Success Stories from Celebrities Who’ve Recovered

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