What Are The Most Common Eating Disorders?

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), about 28.8 million Americans (9% of the U.S. population) will experience an eating disorder at some point during their lives. The most common eating disorders include binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa. Each of these disorders can affect a different portion of the population and present with unique symptoms. Eating disorders are frequently treated with therapy, and some individuals may also require medical treatment.

What is an eating disorder?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), eating disorders are serious (and potentially fatal) illnesses that can be associated with disturbances in a person’s eating patterns and behaviors. Eating disorders can also affect how a person thinks about food and their emotions related to food. 

Depending on what type of disorder a person is experiencing, individuals may also have restrictive eating habits or experience a compulsion to “get rid of” the food they eat through processes like purging. Eating disorders can vary in prevalence, with some conditions being more common than others. 

The most common eating disorders 

According to this data, binge eating disorder appears to be the most common eating disorder of those listed. However, the prevalence of these disorders is only one aspect to consider. To understand the impact these conditions can have on a person's life, it may be important to learn more about what they are and the symptoms with which they can present. 

What is anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is a condition typically associated with extremely restrictive eating habits. This condition can be separated into two subtypes: restrictive and binge-purge. 

• Restrictive anorexia nervosa: Those with restrictive anorexia nervosa may limit the quantity of food they consume, which can mean they get far fewer calories than their body needs to function properly. This can have a variety of consequences, including significant weight loss and physical health concerns. 
• Binge-purge anorexia nervosa: While individuals with binge-purge anorexia nervosa also tend to restrict the amount of food they consume, they may engage in episodes of binging and purging as well. This can involve eating significant quantities of food and then “purging” the body through various means, including using laxatives or diuretics and vomiting. 

Anorexia nervosa can have a variety of health consequences, including loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness, anemia, osteoporosis, and in some cases, death. As such, it can be essential to understand the symptoms of this condition and seek treatment as soon as possible. 

Anorexia nervosa symptoms

The symptoms of anorexia nervosa may include the following:

• Fear of gaining weight
• Preoccupation with physical appearance
• Extremely restrictive eating habits
• Distorted image of one’s own body
• Emaciation or extreme thinness
• Denial of one’s low body weight
• Difficulty maintaining what physicians determine to be a “healthy weight” 

Over time, symptoms may progress and affect a person’s ability to maintain basic bodily functions. Physical effects can include yellowing of the skin, low blood pressure, brittle nails and hair, lower body temperatures, fatigue, and slowed pulse and breathing.

It can be important to note that not all individuals with anorexia are underweight or extremely thin. Those with anorexia who are not underweight may receive the diagnosis of “atypical anorexia nervosa.”

What is bulimia nervosa?

Individuals with bulimia nervosa can experience recurring episodes of binge eating, or the overconsumption of foods in a short period of time, and purging, or forcing oneself to eliminate the food eaten through forced vomiting, diuretic or laxative use, excessive exercise, or fasting. While this may be similar to individuals experiencing binge-purge anorexia, one significant difference can be that those with bulimia nervosa typically maintain what medical professionals categorize as a “normal weight.”

Bulimia nervosa symptoms

The symptoms of bulimia nervosa can include those listed below: 

• Swelling of the salivary glands, specifically in the jaw and neck area
• Chronic inflammation of the throat
• Acid reflux
• Intestinal distress
• Severe dehydration 
• Sensitive teeth and worn enamel due to repeated exposure to stomach acid
• Electrolyte imbalance

What is binge eating disorder?

Those living with binge eating disorder can experience binge eating episodes, during which they may lose their ability to control their food intake. This could result in the consumption of a significant amount of food in a short period of time. Unlike binge-purge anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, individuals with binge eating disorder typically do not purge following a binging episode. In many cases, individuals living with binge eating disorder are overweight or obese. 

Binge eating disorder symptoms

Binge eating disorder symptoms may include the following:

• Consuming food quickly during binge episodes
• Eating in secret due to shame or embarrassment
• Consuming large amounts of food in a specific time frame, such as one to two hours
• Eating until one experiences discomfort or intestinal distress
• Eating even when one is not hungry
• Feeling guilt about eating
• A sense that one cannot stop eating or is out of control

Is binge eating always part of an eating disorder?

If a person overeats from time to time, such as the occasional overindulgence during holidays or special events, that doesn’t necessarily indicate they are experiencing an eating disorder. However, recurring episodes or the sense that one cannot stop eating could suggest they are developing a condition like binge eating disorder. If individuals are concerned about the possible development of an eating disorder, it can be essential to reach out for support.

Additional eating disorders 

While these eating disorders may be among the most common, there are other types of disorders a person may experience. 

For example, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) can involve the avoidance of specific types of food. Individuals with ARFID, which may also be called selective eating disorder, may dislike these foods for a variety of reasons, including taste, texture, and smell. 

Another example of a less common eating disorder is pica. Pica generally involves the consumption of non-food items. This can include soil, paper, hair, sand, plastic, and rocks, among other possibilities.

Can a person experience multiple eating disorders?

It may be possible for individuals to experience multiple types of eating disorders throughout their lives, although a person is likely to have only one eating disorder diagnosis at a time. However, symptoms and diagnoses can fluctuate as time goes on, and this may be referred to as diagnostic crossover.

Can eating disorders affect mental health? 

In addition to the mental distress often associated with eating disorders, research suggests that individuals with eating disorders can also experience comorbid psychiatric disorders. A 2023 study estimated that 70% of those living with an eating disorder experienced psychiatric comorbidities, such as the following:

• Mood disorders (over 40%)
• Personality disorders (over 53%)
• Anxiety disorders (over 50%)
• Substance use disorders (over 10%)

While these comorbid mental health disorders may require specific treatments, it can also be helpful to address eating disorders with the help of a mental health professional. These treatments often include various types of psychotherapy. 

Mental health treatments for eating disorders 

According to the NIMH, two therapeutic approaches that could be effective for the treatment of eating disorders include cognitive behavioral therapy and family-based therapy.  

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT can help individuals experiencing eating disorders understand the patterns of thought that can lead to potentially harmful behaviors. Certain variations may be particularly effective, such as enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E). 
• Family-based therapy: Family-based treatment may be beneficial for parents with children or adolescents who are experiencing eating disorders. This type of treatment can teach coping mechanisms to help children address the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that can contribute to disordered eating. It can also educate family members about eating disorders and advise the best ways to offer support. 

While these therapeutic approaches can benefit individuals with eating disorders, in-person forms of therapy may not always be convenient or accessible. In some cases, a person could live in a remote region or location that lacks sufficient mental health services. Others could struggle to find reliable transportation to travel to a therapist's office or prefer to discuss sensitive topics through texts, calls, or video chats. In these situations, it may be necessary to explore alternatives, such as online therapy. 

Research suggests that online therapy can be an effective alternative to in-person therapy. In a 2022 systematic review involving participants with eating disorders, 12 studies with a total of 931 patients were analyzed to compare therapy delivered through telehealth and face-to-face treatment. Researchers found no significant differences between these two therapeutic formats on a variety of outcomes, including symptom severity after treatment, working alliance, function, client satisfaction, and overall improvement.