Eating Disorder Specialist

What are the different types of eating disorders?

The most common eating disorders include:

Anorexia nervosa

People with anorexia nervosa see themselves as overweight regardless of their real weight. Even when they’re dangerously underweight, they still believe they’re overweight.

Anorexia makes people severely limit the amount of food they eat. They typically over-exercise and often throw up after eating or use laxatives to help lose weight.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia is characterized by recurrent episodes of binging followed by purging. Binging refers to eating unusually large amounts of food. When people binge, they feel like they don’t have control and can’t stop.

Then they purge to compensate for overeating. Some people force vomiting, and others use laxatives, fasting, exercise, or diuretics to offset their binging.

While people with anorexia are always extremely thin (emaciated), those with bulimia may be underweight, overweight, or a normal weight.

Binge-eating disorder

Binge-eating disorder occurs when you lose control over your eating and consume too much food. Binge eaters do not purge or use any other method to make up for overeating. As a result, they’re overweight or obese.

Rumination disorder

People with rumination disorder automatically and unintentionally regurgitate undigested food from their stomach. Then they chew it and swallow or spit it out. Regurgitation occurs repeatedly, typically within 10 minutes of eating, and usually without retching or gagging.

What health complications occur due to eating disorders?

Eating disorders are associated with a wide range of potentially serious health complications, including:

• Extreme weight loss or gain
  
• Nutritional deficiencies
  
• Osteoporosis
  
• Severe dehydration
  
• Brittle hair and nails
  
• Severe constipation
  
• Low blood pressure
  
• Eroded tooth enamel
  
• A drop in body temperature
  
• Heart and/or brain damage
  
• Infertility
  
• Fatigue
  
• Electrolyte imbalance
  

An electrolyte imbalance occurs when your levels of sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and a few other minerals are either too high or too low. 

Electrolytes control heart, nerve, and muscle function. As a result, an electrolyte imbalance may cause a heart attack or stroke.

How are eating disorders treated?

Instic Health customizes each person’s treatment plan based on their personal circumstances and the unique treatment approach needed for each type of eating disorder.

Your treatment plan may include one or more of the following:

• Nutritional guidance
  
• Behavioral therapy
  
• Lifestyle and habit changes
  
• Family therapy
  
• Talk therapy
  
• Medication
  

Early treatment for an eating disorder helps you overcome the challenge and get back on the path to a healthy, fulfilling life.

To schedule an appointment, call Instic Health, or connect using the online booking feature today.