Types of Eating Disorders

Our highly skilled team of pediatricians is here for you and your child. Children's Healthcare Medical Associates proudly serves San Diego, CA. Eating disorders should be taken very seriously and can come in many forms. Here are the different eating disorders and the signs you should look for as a parent or caregiver. 

The Six Types of Eating Disorders 

1. Anorexia Nervosa

With this disorder, people perceive themselves as overweight, even if they are dangerously thin. Most sufferers are young: adolescents, teenagers, and young adults. Usually, people suffering from Anorexia Nervosa consistently monitor their weight, restrict calories, and exercise a lot more than what is healthy (especially considering how much they restrict calories). 

Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms

Look for the following signs to identify this eating disorder:

  • Unnaturally thin body, use your child’s peers for comparison if necessary. 
  • Distorted body image, the victim will deny their severe underweight state. 
  • Restrictive eating behaviors or patterns.
  • Fear of or obsession with overweight people. 

2. Bulimia Nervosa

This disorder also commonly affects those aged from children to young adults. 

Those suffering from Bulimia Nervosa will eat until painfully full, then purge the food to relieve their gut and make up for the calories consumed. 

Bulimia Nervosa Symptoms

Look for the following signs to identify this eating disorder:

  • Binge eating
  • Purging of food
  • Fear of gaining weight

3. Binge Eating Disorder 

This disorder is exactly like Bulimia Nervosa; the only difference is that the person will not attempt to purge their food. 

Binge Eating Disorder Symptoms

  • Eating excessive amounts of foods quickly, secretly, and until uncomfortably full. 
  • Feeling a lack of control while binging. Also, feeling shame.
  • No purging symptoms such as calorie restriction, excessive exercise, or purging. 

4. Pica

People with pica crave and eat non-food substances. Common items these individuals may eat include ice, dirt, paper, chalk, soap, cornstarch, cloth, or laundry detergent. 

Pica puts people at a greater risk of poisoning, injury, infection, choking, nutritional deficiencies, or even death.

5. Rumination Disorder

This is a newly recognized disorder. Our team of pediatricians is qualified to treat eating disorders in San Diego, CA. 

People with a rumination disorder will regurgitate their food, chew it again, and then either swallow it again or spit it out. 

If not resolved, especially in infant cases, it can result in severe nutritional deficiencies that can become fatal. 

6. Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Individuals suffering from this disorder experience disturbed eating due to the smell, taste, texture, color, or temperature of foods. 

Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Symptoms

  • Weight loss or poor development for age or height.
  • Avoidance or restriction of foods that prevents the person from eating enough to thrive.
  • Dependence on supplements or tube feeding.

Our team of pediatricians at Children’s Healthcare Medical Associates in San Diego, CA, is qualified to handle eating disorders of all kinds. To schedule an appointment, please call us at (619) 297-5437. 

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(619) 297-5437

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