According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 4.7% of Brazilians have eating disorders, and excessive concern with weight can have devastating consequences for mental health.
Using information from Dr. Jairo Bouer’s blog, here are the main types of eating disorders and their warning signs.
Types of Eating Disorders
The most prevalent disorders are:
Anorexia
Characterized by an irrational fear of gaining weight, anorexia causes people to perceive themselves as overweight even when they are at or below their ideal weight — a condition called body image distortion.
Bulimia
Bulimia nervosa is marked by episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, such as restrictive diets, vomiting, laxative intake, and excessive physical exercise.
Binge Eating Disorder
Affecting 1.5% of the population, this type of disorder is characterized by frequent consumption of large amounts of food in a short period, with a feeling of loss of control.
Orthorexia
This involves an excessive preoccupation with a healthy diet, crossing into obsessive territory.
Who is Affected
According to the blog, the main group affected by eating disorders is women aged 18 to 24, although anyone can be affected.
Additionally, a person does not need to be extremely thin to suffer from eating disorders. People with a healthy weight or even overweight individuals can develop them.
Main Symptoms of Eating Disorders
According to “Harvard Health Publishing,” the main symptoms include:
• Changes in eating habits: what, when, and how much someone eats;
• Food restrictions;
• Weight fluctuations;
• Dissatisfaction and unhappiness with body image;
• Excessive physical exercise;
• Spending too much time in the bathroom.
Eating disorders can lead to other health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and stomach injuries. Therefore, the sooner they are treated, the better. If you suffer from eating disorders or know someone who does, do not hesitate to seek medical help.
This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
