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2020 Overview of Eating Disorders - Mental Health Disorders - Merck Manuals Consumer Version

MERCK MANUAL
Consumer Version
The trusted provider of medical information since 1899

Overview of Eating Disorders

By Evelyn Attia , MD, Columbia University Medical Center, New York State Psychiatric Institute;
B. Timothy Walsh , MD, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University
Last full review/revision Jul 2018| Content last modified Jul 2018

Eating disorders involve a disturbance of eating or of behavior related to eating, typically including
Changes in what or how much people eat

Measures people take to prevent food from being absorbed (for example, making themselves vomit or taking a
laxative)

For unusual eating behavior to be considered a disorder, the behavior must continue for a period of time and cause
significant harm to the person's physical health and/or ability to function at school or work or negatively affect the
person's interactions with other people.
Eating disorders include
Anorexia nervosa

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder

Binge eating disorder

Bulimia nervosa

Pica

Rumination disorder

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a relentless pursuit of thinness, a distorted body image, an extreme fear of
obesity, and restriction of food consumption, leading to a significantly low body weight. People with anorexia nervosa
restrict their intake of food, but they may also binge-eat, then compensate by purging (for example, by making
themselves vomit or using laxatives). People who have the disorder may restrict their food intake to the point where
their health is harmed. Although anorexia means loss of appetite, many people with anorexia nervosa do not lose their
appetite until they are very emaciated.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is characterized by eating very little food and/or avoiding eating certain
foods without the concern about body shape or weight that is typical in people with anorexia nervosa or bulimia
nervosa. Usually, people with this disorder are extremely picky about food and types of food. For example, they may
avoid foods that are a certain color, consistency, or odor. Some people are afraid of possible adverse consequences of
eating such as choking or vomiting.
Binge eating disorder is characterized by eating unusually large amounts of food—much more than most people
would eat in a similar time under similar circumstances. People feel a loss of control during and after binge eating.
Binge eating is not followed by purging or other attempts to compensate for the excess food eaten.
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by repeated episodes of rapidly eating large amounts of food, followed by
attempting to compensate for the excess food consumed. For example, people may make themselves vomit or take
laxatives.
Pica is regularly eating things that are not food.
Rumination disorder is characterized by regurgitation of food after eating.
Eating disorders are more common among women, especially younger women, than among men.

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