Eating Disorders

What do eating disorders look like?

People with eating disorders don’t all look or act the same — there are different types of eating disorders with unique characteristics. 

Common types of eating disorders include:

Anorexia nervosa

When you think of someone with an eating disorder, you may picture a person with anorexia nervosa. People with this eating disorder severely restrict food intake or exercise excessively because they fear gaining weight, even though they’re significantly underweight.

The severe food restriction of anorexia nervosa may affect organ function, leading to life-threatening complications like heart, liver, or kidney failure.

Bulimia nervosa

People with bulimia nervosa fluctuate between periods of “dieting” and binge-eating “forbidden” foods. After binging, the person engages in activities to get rid of the food, such as self-induced vomiting, using laxatives, or exercising for hours. 

People with bulimia nervosa come in all ages and sizes.

Binge-eating disorder (BED)

BED is the most common eating disorder. People with BED feel like they have no control over their eating and consume large amounts of food in a short period of time. Unlike bulimia nervosa, people with BED don’t purge after they binge. 

People with BED tend to struggle with their weight.

What causes eating disorders?

Researchers are still investigating the causes of eating disorders but theorize they develop from a combination of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors. Eating disorders affect people of all ages and backgrounds. 

They most often appear during adolescence or early adulthood but can develop earlier or later in life.

I have an eating disorder. Can psychiatric care help me get better?

Eating disorders are complex behavioral conditions that benefit from an individualized and multidisciplinary approach to care. Psychiatric care is one of the treatments that help people with an eating disorder. 

The team at Open Mind Psychiatry specializes in eating disorders and conducts a comprehensive psychiatric assessment before making any treatment recommendations. Treatment for eating disorders may include:

• Psychotherapy
• Medication management
• Nutrition therapy
• Medical care and monitoring

Eating disorders aren’t just about food. Psychiatric care at Open Mind Psychiatry helps you understand the underlying emotions and behaviors behind your disordered eating and develop strategies to better cope with them.

Call Open Mind Psychiatry or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about psychiatric mental health care for eating disorders.