What are the major categories of eating disorders?

There are two subgroups of anorexic behavior aimed at reducing caloric intake, including the following:

  - restrictor type - severely limits the intake of food, especially carbohydrates and fat containing foods.

  - bulimia (also called binge-eating/purging type) - eats in binges and then induces vomiting and/or takes large amounts of laxatives or other cathartics (medications, through their chemical effects, that serve to increase the clearing of intestinal contents).

Psychiatrist and eating disorder specialist Dr. Michael Pertschuk discusses the major categories of eating disorders. Watch Dr. Pertschuk''s video for tips and information on eating behaviors.

There are three major categories of eating disorders:

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by the incessant pursuit of thinness, an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and a refusal to maintain a normal body weight. Two types of anorexia nervosa exist. Those suffering from the restricting type severely limit caloric intake by extreme dieting or fasting; they may also exercise excessively. Those of the binge-eating/purging type exhibit the same restricting behavior but also engage in bouts of gorging, followed by vomiting and/or abuse of laxatives or diuretics.

Bulimia nervosaconsists of episodes of binge eating and purging that occur an average of twice a week for at least three months. Binge eaters devour an excessive amount of food in a brief period of time, often feeling out of control and unable to stop. A characteristic binge might include a pint of ice cream, a bag of chips, cookies, and large quantities of water or soda, all consumed in a short time. Again, purging behavior such as vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics, and/or excessive exercise occurs after the binge in an effort to get rid of any digested calories.

Binge-eating disorder (BED) is a more recently described disorder that comprises bingeing similar to bulimia, but without the purging behavior used to avoid gaining weight. As among bulimics, those experiencing BED feel a lack of control and engage in bingeing an average of twice a week.

The primary eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a patient’s lack of eating, which leads to emaciation and malnourishment, and also a distortion of body image and fear of gaining weight. Bulimia nervosa involves frequent episodes of binge-purge cycles. The person eats excessive amounts of food and then purges by vomiting or using laxatives, and/or exercising excessively. Binge-eating disorder is similar to bulimia without the episodes of purging.