If you or your loved ones have irregular eating habits or they feel extreme concern about their body weight and shape, then you might be suffering from an eating disorder.

What characterizes an eating disorder is abnormal eating habits that come with detrimental effects on a person’s physical and mental health. It is a mental illness that can develop at any point in one’s life, and 9% of the world population is suffering from one type of eating disorder or another.

Fortunately, proper treatment can have positive effects on several types of eating disorders and leads to grave consequences if left unchecked.

What Are The Types Of Eating Disorders?

There are many eating disorders out there, but here are three of the most common types and their most prominent symptoms:
● Binge Eating Disorder. People suffering from Binge Eating Disorders lose control over their eating habits. They often go through episodes of eating extensive quantities of food, followed by feelings of guilt, shame, and distress. People with BED are usually overweight and have increased risks of developing other conditions like cardiovascular diseases, diarrhea, and acid reflux.

● Bulimia Nervosa. Individuals who suffer from Bulimia Nervosa show signs similar to Binge Eating Disorder. However, they compensate for excessive eating with other behaviors like voluntary vomiting and extreme exercising. The purging episodes are usually secret and come with feelings of guilt and shame. Bulimia might lead to severe digestive, heart, teeth, and mood complications.

● Anorexia Nervosa. Men or women undergoing Anorexia usually hold low body weights, excessive fear of gaining fat, and distorted body images. They go through drastic measures like starving themselves and forced vomiting to control their body weight and shape, which hinder their everyday lives. Anorexia may lead, among other ailments, to heart failure, bone loss, and kidney problems.

Getting Help And Guidance

Thankfully, eating disorders are treatable and manageable.
The first major step to take is to identify the eating disorder attitudes and behaviors in yourself or your loved ones. The second step is to seek professional help and guidance from doctors or counselors.

The doctor or counselor can diagnose your condition and show you how to move forward. They might also refer you to other qualified experts or support groups.
Therapy goals include:
● Promoting a healthier relationship with food
● Developing a better body image
● Bringing harmful behavior like purging to a halt
● Treating anxiety and eliminating guilt

Insight Therapy offers eating disorder counseling and therapy in Champaign & Urbana. Schedule a free 30-minute consultation.