- 1. Anorexia
- 2. Bulimia
- 3. Food Compulsion
- 4. Orthorexia
- 5. Vigorexia
- 6. Gourmet syndrome
- 7. Night Eating Disorder
Eating disorders are characterized by changes in the way of eating, usually due to an excessive concern with weight and appearance of the body. They may have characteristics such as spending several hours without eating, making frequent use of laxatives and avoiding going out to eat in public places.
Eating disorders can cause serious consequences, such as kidney, heart problems and even death. In general, they appear more frequently in women, especially during adolescence, and are often linked to problems such as anxiety, depression and drug use.
Here are the top 7 eating disorders.
1. Anorexia
Anorexia or anorexia nervosa is a disorder in which a person always sees his body overweight, even if he is clearly underweight or malnourished. There is an intense fear of gaining weight and an obsession to lose weight, the main characteristic of which is the rejection of any type of food.
Main symptoms: looking in the mirror and feeling fat, not eating so as not to gain weight, counting the calories of the meal before eating, avoiding eating in public, exercising excessively to lose weight and taking medicine to lose weight. I take the test to see if it is anoxia.
Treatment: the basis of anorexia treatment is psychotherapy, which will help to improve behavior in relation to food and the body itself, and it may be necessary to use drugs against anxiety and depression. In addition, there must be nutritional monitoring to guide healthy eating and the use of dietary supplements to supply the body's lack of nutrients.
2. Bulimia
Bulimia is characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating, in which there is a consumption of large amounts of food, followed by compensatory behaviors such as forcing vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, going without eating and exercising excessively to try to control weight.
Main symptoms: chronic inflammation in the throat, gastric reflux, tooth decay and tenderness in the teeth, physical activity, eating large amounts hidden, dehydration and gastrointestinal problems.
Treatment: it is also done with psychological monitoring to reverse the behavior in relation to food and nutritional monitoring, to have guidance on the adequacy of the diet and the balance of nutrients. In addition, the use of medication for anxiety and to control vomiting may be necessary. See more about treating bulimia.
3. Food Compulsion
The main characteristic of binge eating is frequent episodes of overeating, even when you are not hungry. There is a loss of control over what to eat, but there is no compensatory behavior such as vomiting or use of laxatives.
Main symptoms: overeating even when you are not hungry, difficulty stopping eating, eating too fast, consuming strange foods like raw rice or frozen beans, being overweight.
Treatment: psychological monitoring should be carried out to help identify the causes of binge eating episodes and regain control over food. Nutritional monitoring is also often required to control weight and likely health problems from the disorder, such as high cholesterol and liver fat.
4. Orthorexia
Orthorexia is an exaggerated concern with what you eat, leading to an obsession to always eat the right way, with healthy foods and extreme control of calories and quality.
Main symptoms: studying a lot about healthy eating, avoiding processed foods or rich in fats or sugar, avoiding eating out, always eating organic products, strictly planning meals.
Treatment: includes medical and psychological monitoring in order to improve the relationship with food and show the patient that he can be healthy even without restricting his diet so much. See more details about orthorexia.
5. Vigorexia
Vigorexia, also known as muscular dysmorphic disorder or Adonis syndrome, is characterized by an obsession with having the perfect body, leading to the exaggerated practice of physical exercises.
Main symptoms: extreme tiredness, irritability, excessive use of dietary supplements, physical exercise until exhaustion, excessive concern with food, insomnia and muscle pain.
Treatment: it is done with psychotherapy, with the objective of making the individual accept his body and increase his self-esteem, in addition to nutritional monitoring for adequate guidance in relation to the use of supplements and for the prescription of an adequate diet for training.
6. Gourmet syndrome
Gourmet Syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by an excessive concern in relation to the preparation of food, from the purchase of ingredients to the way it will be served on the plate.
Main symptoms: frequent consumption of exotic or special dishes, excessive concern with the quality of the ingredients purchased, spending a lot of time in the kitchen, being very careful when preparing food, always serving well decorated dishes.
Treatment: it is done mainly with psychotherapy, but when the syndrome leads to overweight, it is also necessary to follow up with a nutritionist.
7. Night Eating Disorder
Night Eating Disorder, also known as Night Eating Syndrome, is characterized by a lack of appetite in the morning, compensated by a large intake of food during the night, which is accompanied by insomnia.
Main symptoms: waking up at night to eat, not feeling hungry or eating little during the day, not always remembering that you ate a lot during the night, being overweight.
Treatment: it is done with psychotherapy and the use of medications to regulate sleep and, when necessary, antidepressants. See tips on How to control the urge to eat at dawn.
It is important to remember that during the treatment of any eating disorder it is essential to have the support of the family so that the patient understands their condition and collaborates to overcome the problem. If possible, everyone at home should strive to have healthy lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
