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What is an Eating Disorder: Types, Symptoms, Risks, and Causes
Eating disorders are serious mental and physical illnesses that involve complex and damaging relationships with food, eating, exercise, and body image. These disorders impact approximately 30 million people in the United States and are found in all populations regardless of age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, sex, gender, and other factors.2
While eating disorders can be dangerous to mental, physical, and emotional health, treatment for these conditions is available. Learning more can help you recognize signs or symptoms in yourself or a loved one and find appropriate help before it’s too late.
Eating Disorder Definition from the DSM-5
“Eating disorder” is a broad category of mental illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the book of all officially recognized mental health conditions. In general, the term describes any mental illness that manifests as behaviors that disrupt food intake. These disruptions are consistent and impair physical health and psychological functioning.
The behaviors involved can take any number of forms, including severe caloric restriction, episodes of eating far more than is usual, or extreme picky eating to the point where it becomes dangerous. Often, though not always, there is an element of fixation, with the person becoming hyper-focused on food, diet, exercise, and/or their appearance, tying their sense of self-worth to their weight or appearance.
Eating Disorder Facts
Eating disorders are complicated and nuanced disorders that vary from person to person. However, there are some overall eating disorder facts that research has been able to clearly delineate regardless of the individual.
- Eating disorders do not discriminate and can affect people of all ages, races, backgrounds, genders, and beliefs.
- Eating disorder onset typically occurs in adolescence or young adulthood, but is not limited to these life stages.
- There is no one distinct cause of eating disorders. Research has found a number of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors that can increase the risk of eating disorder development.2
- Eating disorders can be life-threatening and have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
- While eating disorders do not have a “miracle cure,” there are numerous evidence-based practices proven to support eating disorder recovery.
What Are the Different Types of Eating Disorders?
Anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED) are the three most well-known types of eating disorders, but, as mentioned above, eating disorders can take many forms.
Each diagnosis has specific criteria differentiating it from other mental illnesses and other eating disorders. Recognizing the differences can help identify issues and improve treatment and recovery outcomes.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa revolves around an intense fear of gaining weight, which generally manifests as extreme restriction of calories or food intake. People with this condition also experience a disturbance in their perception of their own body shape or weight, often seeing themselves as much larger than they actually are.1
Often, people with AN present with a significantly low body weight in relation to their age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health.1 Still, this is not always the case. You cannot determine if someone struggles with AN based on their body appearance alone.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by cycles of binge eating and compensatory behaviors.
Binge eating episodes are described as eating an amount of food in a short period of time that is “definitely” larger than what most people would consume in the same amount of time. They are characterized by a loss of control over how much or what is eaten and involve:1
- Eating until uncomfortably full
- Eating more rapidly than usual
- Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry
- Feelings of disgust, regret, guilt, or shame afterward
- Eating alone, especially to hide this behavior
With BN, these episodes are followed by compensatory behaviors, or attempts to “undo” the “damage” of binge eating. This can look like self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative abuse, fasting, or other methods to “make up” for their previous binging behaviors.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Binge eating disorder is one of the most recently defined eating disorders, but it’s already the most common eating disorder diagnosis in the United States.3
The condition is similar to bulimia nervosa in that people with BED also struggle with recurring binge eating episodes, which share the same clinical definition as those involved with BN. However, unlike people with bulimia nervosa, people with BED do not follow up with compensatory behaviors.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a type of eating disturbance that may present as extremely picky eating. It usually involves avoiding foods due to sensory sensitivities—or refusing to eat foods with certain colors, textures, scents, etc.
Differentiating ARFID from picky eating is the extreme nature of this avoidance, which can lead to significant weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and a heavy reliance on nutritional supplements for survival.1
ARFID can also present as an abject lack of interest in food. Unlike with most other eating disorders, these behaviors are not driven by a desire to lose weight or achieve a certain body image.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) is not an eating disorder, but a term for cases that do not fit established eating disorder definitions but still involve clinically disturbed thoughts and behaviors.
Some issues that may be categorized as OSFED include:1
- Atypical anorexia nervosa: All criteria for AN are met, but the individual’s weight is within or above the “normal” range.
- Bulimia nervosa (of low frequency and/or limited duration): All criteria for BN are met, but occur less than once a week and/or for less than three months.
- Binge eating disorder (of low frequency and/or limited duration): All criteria for BED are met, but binge eating episodes occur less than once/week and/or for less than three months.
- Purging disorder: An individual engages in regular purging to influence body weight or shape but does not engage in binge eating.
Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder
As with OSFED, unspecified feeding or eating disorder (UFED) is a catch-all term for cases that do not meet the full criteria of an eating disorder. UFED differs from OSFED in that it is used when it’s not clear why these criteria aren’t met or when there isn’t enough information to make a more specific diagnosis.
Related Reading
- Weight & Body Image
- Obesity and Eating Disorders
- Orthorexia, Excessive Exercise & Nutrition
- Addictions & Eating Disorders
- Eating Disorder Statistic
- Eating Disorder Research, Studies, and Tests
- Eating Disorders in Men
- What is Too Skinny
- What to Know About BMI
- Testing for an Eating Disorder
- What Causes Eating Disorders
- Demographic Statistics for Eating Disorders
Eating Disorder Symptoms
Eating disorders are complex conditions that manifest as any number of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms. People also tend to hide these thoughts and behaviors, so it can be difficult to tell if someone is struggling with an eating disorder. But there are still some warning signs that may indicate an issue.4
Emotional & Behavioral Eating Disorder Symptoms
- Beliefs/patterns/choices that indicate a focus on weight loss, dieting, food rules, or eating patterns
- Extreme mood swings
- Checking in the mirror often
- Withdrawing from others, decreased socializing, especially when food is involved
- Presenting as hyper-focused on weight, food, calories, and nutritional content of food
- Eating alone or hiding food
- Skipping meals
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Distorted body image
- Difficulty concentrating
Physical Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder
- Weight fluctuations (both up and down) that occur rapidly
- Severe constipation
- Low blood pressure
- Slowed breathing and pulse
- Lethargy, sluggishness, or consistent reports of feeling tired
- Brittle hair and nails
- Dry, yellowish skin
- Loss of menstrual cycle (amenorrhea)
- Growth of soft hair all over the body (lanugo)
- Stomach/gastrointestinal issues
- Dizziness/fainting/lightheadedness
- Muscle weakness
- Impaired immune system functioning
What Causes Eating Disorders?
Many genetic, environmental, and sociological factors contribute to eating disorder development.5
Biological Factors
Eating disorders have been found to be passed on genetically. In general, individuals with a family history of mental illness are more likely to experience mental illness themselves, and this is also true of eating disorders.
An individual’s medical history can also increase the risk of an eating disorder. For example, Type 1 diabetes has been associated with an increased risk for eating disorder development.6
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors include the dynamics that surround an individual. This can include family dynamics, such as family-related beliefs and discussions around weight, food, and self-view, which are shown to be associated with eating disorder diagnoses.
The views expressed in, on, or by peers, social media, popular culture, television, movies, and advertisements can also influence ideas about self-worth and appearance, potentially contributing to disordered thoughts and eating behaviors.
Psychological Factors
Eating disorders are technically mental health conditions, and, as such, are related to a number of psychological factors.
There are specific personality traits that research indicates can increase the likelihood of developing an eating disorder, such as perfectionism and low self-worth.7 Experiencing a past or present trauma also increases one’s likelihood of developing a disordered eating belief or pattern.8 And eating disorders share a high rate of comorbidity—or co-occurring diagnoses—with certain other mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Eating Disorder Consequences
It is unsurprising, with all of the physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms of eating disorders above, that the long-term consequences can be severe. The malnutrition that results from disordered eating affects all organ systems, including the brain, as well as the cardiovascular, endocrine, and gastrointestinal systems.
Some of the most common medical issues caused by eating disorders include:4
- Arrhythmia, heart failure, and other cardiovascular issues
- Amenorrhea, or lack of a menstrual period
- Low blood pressure
- Tooth decay
- Severe dehydration
- Constipation
- Acid reflux, GERD, and other gastrointestinal issues
- Osteoporosis
- Brain damage and/or organ failure
- Stroke
The longer these issues persist without treatment, the higher the odds become of experiencing these or other severe consequences. This is why it’s so important for those with eating disorders to have appropriate help.
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How to Treat Eating Disorders
Eating disorders may be detrimental, but thankfully, they are treatable. A number of therapies and other treatment methods have been found to help.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the leading treatment option for many types of eating disorders. This method of psychotherapy involves helping a patient recognize and proactively change unhelpful thoughts and behavioral patterns. Other common psychological treatments include:
- Family-based therapy (FBT), especially for patients with anorexia nervosa and ARFID
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
- Exposure therapy
Still, eating disorders are complex, often requiring various treatment approaches to address their various environmental, biological, and psychological drivers. Most patients receive some form of nutritional care and education, and some may benefit from medication or experiential care, such as art therapy. As each case is individual to a person’s specific issues and history, so is each treatment plan.
Regardless of which combination of care most benefits a patient, the most important thing is receiving that care. Eating disorders rarely go away or get better on their own.
If you or a loved one is struggling, it’s never too late to seek out help. It could be the first step toward a much healthier and happier life.
Resources
- Feltner C, Peat C, Reddy S, et al. (2022). Summary of DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Eating Disorders. Evidence Synthesis; 212.
- Statistics. (n.d.) National Eating Disorders Association. Accessed October 2025.
- Definition & Facts for Binge Eating Disorder. (n.d.) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Accessed October 2025.
- Eating Disorders. (n.d.) Cleveland Clinic. Accessed October 2025.
- Barakat S, McLean SA, Bryant E, et al. Risk factors for eating disorders: findings from a rapid review. (2023). Journal of Eating Disorders; 11(8).
- Hanlan ME, Griffith J, Patel N, Jaser SS. (2013). Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating in Type 1 Diabetes: Prevalence, Screening, and Treatment Options. Current Diabetes Reports; 13:909-916.
- Petersson S, Johnsson P, Perseius KI. A Sisyphean task: experiences of perfectionism in patients with eating disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders; 5(3).
- Convertino AD, Morland LA, Blashill AJ. (2022). Trauma exposure and eating disorders: Results from a United States nationally representative sample. The International Journal of Eating Disorders; 55(8):1079–1089.
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