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Different Types of Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

Characterized by extreme food restriction, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image, often leading to severe malnutrition.

Bulimia Nervosa

Involves cycles of binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise) to prevent weight gain.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Marked by recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food without compensatory behaviors, leading to distress and potential health issues.

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)

Involves extreme food avoidance or restriction due to sensory issues, fear of choking, or lack of interest in eating, rather than concerns about weight.

PICA

The compulsive eating of non-food items (e.g., dirt, chalk, ice) that can cause medical complications.

Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)

Eating disorders that cause significant distress but don’t fully meet criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorde

Unspecified feeding and eating disorders

This type is used when there is insufficient information for a more specific diagnosis.

Rumination Disorder

The repeated regurgitation, re-chewing, or re-swallowing of food, often without an apparent medical cause.

Orthorexia

An obsession with healthy or "pure" eating that leads to excessive dietary restrictions and nutritional imbalances.