Eating disorders are a group of pathological conditions, one of the key signs of which is an inadequate attitude towards food. A person with some type of disorder may constantly overeat or be extremely selective in their choice of foods. Experts identify four types of eating disorders that are most common.
Orthorexia. In recent years, this disease has begun to be diagnosed more and more often. It can be mild or rapidly transform into a serious condition. This type of eating disorder is based on the desire of a person to improve his health, strengthen immunity, and increase overall vitality. It would seem that there is nothing wrong with such a desire. However, when it begins to acquire pathological features, a person does not get perfect health, but a lot of problems. The key symptom of the condition is the exclusion of many foods from the diet, which, as it seems to the patient, harm his body and worsen his well-being. Due to malnutrition and a lack of important nutrients, somatic diseases gradually begin to develop against the background of orthorexia. In severe cases, this eating disorder is fatal.
Compulsive overeating. In a simple way, this condition is called gluttony. However, if a person overeats once a month, this can hardly be considered a sign of illness. But in cases where gluttony becomes almost the norm of behavior, this is a reason to consult a doctor for advice. Compulsive overeating is characterized by a complete lack of control during food intake: the patient consumes large portions of food, cannot stop even at the moment when there is no trace of hunger left. This type of violation is usually not accompanied by self-punishment, because people with binge eating disorder are usually overweight, have a lot of diseases caused by obesity. If the eating disorder progresses, then other borderline states, for example, various kinds of depression, anxiety disorders, may be added to it.
Anorexia nervosa. This eating disorder is quite common. In severe cases, this disease can be fatal. However, even anorexia nervosa is treatable if you seek the help of a specialist on time. At the heart of this type of eating disorder is an absolute rejection of oneself, the inability to coexist harmoniously with oneself and feel comfortable in one's body. An inadequate desire to lose weight can gradually transform into anorexia nervosa, when a person, even without being overweight, will be convinced that he needs to lose a couple of kilos. Patients are usually unable to take their health seriously, they do not realize the danger that anorexia nervosa poses. One of the important symptoms of the condition is a person's categorical refusal to gain weight and a complete reluctance to eat enough food.
Bulimia. This is perhaps the second most common eating disorder. At the heart of bulimia, just as in the case of anorexia, lies a person's inadequate attitude towards himself, an unhealthy obsession with weight and appearance. However, bulimic patients are unable to restrain themselves from snacking, which gradually turns into episodes of binge eating. After eating food, a person feels anxiety, acute dissatisfaction with himself, shame in front of himself, anger in his address. Therefore, after the meal, a violent cleansing of the stomach and intestines is usually performed, including with the help of self-induced vomiting. It is worth noting that patients with this type of eating disorder very often face diseases of the esophagus, stomach and oral cavity. In addition, bulimia can develop in a person who previously suffered from anorexia, but underwent treatment.
