Types Of Eating Disorders - Information
Is There A Difference Between The Kinds Of Eating Disorders?

Types of eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, pica, orthorexia, binge eating, EDNOS and even some that are lesser known. We'll look at the signs and symptoms -- and possible causes -- of the different kinds of eating disorders that are known in today's society. Perhaps there will be one or two eating disorder types that you may not have heard of.

Eating disorders are commonly identified by abnormal eating habits where food intake is often measured at extreme opposites -- either too little, or too much.

Sometimes there is an exercise component which tends to lean towards being excessive.

It's not unusual to see most types of eating disorders (ED's) tear families apart

. One possible reason for this is that they are extremely complicated illnesses. While they seem to center around food, it's important to note that eating disorders are rarely about food.

In fact, I might even be so bold as to say that they are never just about food. There's always something deeper at the root of it. Other mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression or post traumatic stress disorder can also add to the complexity of the problem. These are known as co-occurring disorders.

Sometimes friends and families try to cajole, bribe or force the person to eat -- or with some types of eating disorders -- to just stop eating. This can lead to anger, frustration and divided family relationships.

What Are The Main Types Of Eating Disorders?

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are probably the best known out of all types of eating disorders.

These diagnostic categories define serious abnormalities in eating behaviors that have significant (sometimes deadly) consequences for the physical and mental health of those who suffer.

The DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition) describes three kinds of eating disorders. They are:

• What Is Anorexia? (Anorexia Nervosa)
• What Is Bulimia? (Bulimia Nervosa)
• EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified)

These also happen to be the two kinds of eating disorders that the general public is most familiar with -- at least in name, but possibly not in genuine understanding or knowledge.

Other Types Of Eating Disorders - Eating Behaviors - DSM 5

There are certain eating behaviors that are not classified in the same way as the above types of eating disorders. In fact, the new DSM 5 revisions include suggested changes to the diagnostic criteria for many current eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder, among others.

Additionally, one of the most discussed aspects of DSM 5 is the proposal for the inclusion of some disordered eating behaviors that are not (as of now) officially noted as psychiatric conditions.

It's very likely that at least a few of the items from the list below will be published as full-blown eating disorders when the DSM 5 is published in May 2013

Are any of these disordered eating behaviors actually types of eating disorders?

• Anorexia Athletica
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Compulsive Eating Disorder
• Diabulimia
• Geophagy
• Night Eating Syndrome
• Orthorexia
• Pica Eating Disorder
• Purging Disorder
• Sleep Related Eating Disorder

Some Lesser Known Eating Disorders

The conditions listed below all have disordered eating components, so I refer to them as lesser known eating disorders. However, they are also not necessarily considered to be actual mental disorders by the medical (psychiatric) community.

Follow these links to learn more:

• Bigorexia
• Rumination Disorder
• Failure To Thrive

Do you have a story or additional information to share about any of the eating disorder types listed above? Visit the Eating Disorder Forum to post your comments!

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