Weighing yourself.

What is it?

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions characterized by unhealthy and extreme thoughts, emotions, and behaviors related to food, eating, body image, and weight. These disorders can severely impact physical health and emotional well-being. The most common types include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

Prevalence and statistics

• Around 9% of the global population will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime.

• Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses (after opioid use).

• Binge-eating disorder is the most common, affecting 2.8% of people worldwide.

• Anorexia nervosa affects about 1% but has a high risk of medical complications and death.

• 13% of adolescents may develop at least one eating disorder by age 20.

How to identify?

Emotional signs –

• Intense fear of gaining weight or being judged for appearance

• Shame, guilt or anxiety around eating

• Obsession with food, weight or body size

Physical signs –

• Noticeable weight loss or fluctuations

• Fatigue, dizziness, digestive issues, or menstrual irregularities

• Callused knuckles, dental issues or dehydration (in purging behaviors)

Behavioural signs –

• Skipping meals, restrictive eating or food rituals

• Binge eating in secret or excessive food intake in short time periods

• Purging behaviors (vomiting, laxative use or over-exercising)

Cognitive signs –

• Distorted body image or belief of being overweight despite being underweight

• Rigid thinking about “good” or “bad” foods

• Low self-esteem tied closely to body shape or weight

Common Types of Eating Disorders:

• Anorexia Nervosa – Extreme restriction of food intake, fear of weight gain, distorted body image

• Bulimia Nervosa – Cycles of binge eating followed by purging. Associated with body image issues.

• Binge-Eating Disorder – Recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food with loss of control

• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – Limited eating due to sensory issues or fear, not related to body image

• Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED) – Disordered eating patterns that don’t fully meet criteria for other diagnoses

  
  

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