Eating Disorders And Eating Behaviors
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect an individual's relationship with food, eating behaviors, and, in some cases, body image. These conditions can have significant impacts on both physical and psychological well-being. Although many people periodically worry about their eating patterns or body shape, eating disorders are defined by persistent behaviors that significantly interfere with daily activities and overall health.
Around five million people in the United States are affected by eating disorders every year, with many cases going undiagnosed and untreated. Here, we’ll explore what links eating disorders and eating behaviors with mental health, and then we’ll cover key eating disorder treatment options.
Understanding the link between eating disorders and mental health
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance use disorders
If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.
This interconnection highlights the importance of comprehensive treatment approaches that address eating behaviors and underlying mental health factors.
The psychological impact of disordered eating patterns
Disordered eating behaviors can have various psychological effects. These may include changes in mood, cognitive function, and overall emotional well-being, among others.
Restrictive eating on mood and cognition
Restrictive eating behaviors, such as significantly limiting food intake, can impact brain function and mood. Some potential effects of restricted eating behaviors include:
- Changes in mood stability
- Alterations in concentration and decision-making abilities
- Increased preoccupation with food-related thoughts
These effects may create a cycle that reinforces restrictive eating behaviors. When individuals attempt to sustain these eating behaviors, they may find it increasingly challenging to deviate from them, leading to further emotional distress and difficulties.
Binge-eating episodes and emotional responses
Binge-eating episodes in particular can be associated with strong emotional responses. Some individuals may engage in binge eating as an attempt to cope with stress, anxiety, or other difficult feelings, and many report experiencing feelings of shame or guilt following a binge. These emotional responses may contribute to a cycle of using food and eating as a coping mechanism.
Binge eating may also affect social interactions and self-perception for some individuals. The guilt or shame associated with binge eating may lead to social isolation, further exacerbating psychological distress.
A brief overview of anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by restrictive eating behaviors, concerns about weight gain, and distorted body image. Individuals experiencing anorexia often employ strategies like extreme dietary restrictions or excessive exercise routines to sustain a low body weight.
The physical effects of anorexia frequently involve malnutrition and hormonal dysregulation. Left untreated, this condition has the potential to cause original failure and death. Mental health effects commonly associated with the condition include increased anxiety levels and reduced social engagement.
Anxiety and perfectionism in anorexia nervosa
Research suggests that anxiety and perfectionism may play a role in eating disorders like anorexia nervosa. Many individuals affected by anorexia acknowledge experiencing worry or distress regarding eating habits, weight management, and physical appearance. This anxiety may manifest as:
- Rigid thought patterns about food and weight
- Concerns about making mistakes or losing control
- Preoccupation with order and symmetry
Perfectionist tendencies may lead some individuals to set high standards for themselves, including those related to body shape and weight. While these characteristics alone do not cause eating disorders like anorexia, they might influence unhealthy eating behaviors in certain people.
A brief overview of bulimia
Bulimia nervosa is another common eating disorder. This eating disorder involves recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors. These behaviors may include self-induced vomiting, rigorous exercise routines, or misuse of laxatives. Many individuals diagnosed with bulimia report experiencing a perceived loss of control during binge episodes and express fear of potential weight gain.
Unlike with anorexia, individuals with bulimia may maintain a weight within the typical range, which can make the disorder less visible to others. Some may also alternate between periods of restrictive eating and binging, making the condition even more challenging to detect.
Bulimia and psychological well-being
Bulimia can have various impacts on psychological well-being. Some potential effects include:
- Changes in self-esteem and body image
- Mood alterations, including increased anxiety or depressive symptoms
- Difficulties with emotional regulation
The secretive nature often associated with bulimia may also affect social relationships for some individuals. Such behaviors may lead to feelings of isolation and shame, further perpetuating the cycle of disordered eating.
A brief overview of binge eating disorder (BED)
Binge eating disorder consists of recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food in a short period, often accompanied by a sense of loss of control. Unlike bulimia, individuals with BED do not engage in regular compensatory behaviors after binge episodes.
As with other eating disorders, BED can affect individuals of any age, gender, or body size. This disorder is distinct from occasional overeating, as the binge episodes occur regularly and are associated with significant distress.
Takeaway
What are eating disorder behaviors?
Behaviors that are commonly associated with eating disorders include restrictive food intake, binge eating, and purging behaviors to prevent weight gain. These behaviors may manifest in different ways but are often hidden. A person might start skipping meals, practicing frequent dieting, or displaying picky eating habits, potentially resulting in sudden and significant weight loss.
Which behaviors are most closely associated with eating disorders?
The most prominent behaviors vary based on the subtype of eating disorder. For example, binging and self-induced vomiting are two characteristic behaviors of bulimia nervosa. Other behaviors closely tied to some of the most common eating disorders include the misuse of laxatives, restrictive eating, and excessive exercise to prevent an individual from gaining weight.
What is the difference between eating disorders and eating behaviors?
Eating disorders are diagnosable mental health conditions that can have severe consequences on a person’s health, affecting weight, co-occurring mental health issues, and physical health problems like bone loss and tooth enamel erosion. Disordered eating is a general term that describes unhealthy eating habits like crash dieting or obsessing over the nutritional value of certain foods without necessarily meeting the clinical criteria for an eating disorder. That said, disordered eating can still have a negative impact on a person’s physical and mental well-being and may accompany a sudden loss of weight and distorted body image. These traits can create a higher risk of developing eating disorders.
What are the eating behaviors of an individual with anorexia nervosa?
Healthy eating habits generally involve eating meals regularly, eating from all food groups, and maintaining a normal weight and body mass index. An individual with anorexia nervosa typically engages in extreme food restriction and may avoid entire food groups to prevent themselves from gaining weight. This may lead an individual to skip meals or eat very small portions of food. Additionally, their eating behaviors may involve rigid thinking about calories, which can dominate their thoughts and daily routines and influence them to track food eaten throughout the day.
What causes eating behaviors?
Eating behaviors may be shaped by family members, family history, cultural practices, and mental health concerns like anxiety disorders or low self-esteem. Nutrition counseling and personal lifestyle choices may also influence eating behaviors.
What're eating disorders?
An eating disorder is a mental health condition characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviors, often involving an intense fear of weight gain and a distorted body image. Eating disorders affect both physical and mental health and, if left untreated, lead to medical complications and life-threatening issues. Some of the most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, but the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), also recognizes avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, pica, rumination disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED), and unspecified feeding or eating disorder (UFED).
Do eating disorders and eating behaviors affect mental health?
Psychologically, disordered eating can affect an individual’s overall mental health, often resulting in rigid thinking. Disordered eating can lead to increased anxiety, depression, and a distorted body image that fuels low self-esteem and obsessive thoughts about food and weight. These eating behaviors often cause emotional distress and guilt. It can also prompt social withdrawal as individuals avoid settings involving food. Cognitive function may also suffer, as restrictive eating or avoiding essential food groups impairs focus and decision-making, creating a cycle of worsening mental and physical health.
Physically, disordered eating can lead to serious health problems like bone loss, tooth enamel erosion, menstrual period irregularities, and medical complications like cardiovascular issues. The physical consequences of food restrictive behaviors can lead a person to be severely or slightly underweight, which can cause them to begin feeling hungry more often and have diminished energy levels.
How can you identify eating disorders?
If a person begins to binge eat, restrict their food intake, exhibit extreme efforts to lose weight, or suddenly gain weight, they may be displaying risk factors for disordered eating. Consider consulting a registered dietitian/nutritionist for an official diagnosis.
What're the causes of eating disorders?
Eating disorders occur due to a complex combination of factors. Biologically, genetics and chemical imbalances in a person’s mental health can increase an individual’s susceptibility to disordered eating behavior. Additionally, psychological factors, major life transitions, traumatic or stressful events, and other traits can also put an individual at a high risk of developing an eating disorder.
What's normal eating behavior?
Normal eating behavior is characterized by a balanced, nutrient-focused approach to all food groups. People with a healthy relationship with food eat when they are hungry and stop when they are satiated, allowing flexibility around certain foods without feeling guilt after eating them.
- Previous Article
- Next Article