Eating Disorders Uncovered
[TRIGGER WARNING: The following article mentions eating disorders. Reader discretion is advised.]
Eating Disorders (EDs) are a range of psychological conditions characterised by unhealthy eating patterns, and may be prevalent even if one is within the healthy weight range. There are stereotypes that men are less likely to have EDs when compared to women, but research shows that men actually make up 15% of ED cases.
EDs affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviours around food, weight, and body image. They can occur in people of any age, gender identity, body size, or cultural background. Crucially, eating disorders are not a “choice” or a phase; they are serious, potentially life-threatening mental health conditions that often co-occur with anxiety, depression, trauma histories, or obsessive-compulsive traits. With timely, compassionate care, recovery is possible.
Types of EDs and their Characteristics
✽ Anorexia Nervosa
- Intense fear of gaining weight*
- Partial or total abstinence from food
- Severely distorted body image
- Lack of awareness on seriousness of low weight
- Subtypes: Diet restricting type or binge-eating/purging type (or by laxative)
People with anorexia may develop rigid food rules, avoid eating with others, and engage in excessive exercise or frequent body checking. Medical risks include low heart rate, electrolyte imbalance, bone loss, hair loss, and fertility problems.
✽ Bulimia Nervosa
- Engaged in a cycle of bingeing and purging
- Bingeing: emotionally induced consumption of excessive amounts of food every few hours
- Guilt from bingeing triggers / prevention of weight gain through compensatory behaviour* (e.g. self-induced vomiting, excessive exercising, extreme fasting, or laxatives)
Bulimia can occur at any body size. Dental enamel erosion, swollen salivary glands, sore throat, gastrointestinal issues, and heart rhythm problems are common complications.
✽ Binge-Eating Disorder (BED)
- Uncontrolled, impulsive, continuous overeating to the point of discomfort and pain
- Intense guilt and self-loathing from bingeing
- No compensatory behaviour (i.e. purging) after*
- Binge episodes are typically triggered by an emotional event, causing individuals to turn to food for comfort
BED is the most common eating disorder. People often eat rapidly, alone due to shame, and continue eating despite not feeling physically hungry. Emotional regulation skills and structured, compassionate nourishment support recovery.
✽ Orthorexia Nervosa
- Extreme exercise and obsession with eating perceived ‘healthy’ food to attain ‘pure’, ‘clean’, and healthy bodies (focus on how food affects perceived health*)
- Avoidance of perceived ‘unhealthy’ food, such as those with oil, butter, carbohydrates, etc.
- Excessive elimination of foods, resulting in extreme weight loss
Although not a formal DSM-5 diagnosis, orthorexia can severely impair social life and nutrition. The pursuit of “perfect” eating becomes rigid, anxiety-fuelled, and isolating.
* These are the characteristics used to differentiate between the different types of EDs.
Signs and Symptoms
- Distorted perception of own body and weight
- Extreme preoccupation with food
- Emotional state tied to eating habits
- Self-loathing behaviour
- Reduced concentration and thinking ability
- Becoming very secretive about food
- Moodiness, shakiness and irritability
- Obsessive food routines and habits
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Avoidance of social situations that include food
Additional warning signs may include frequent dieting, cutting out multiple food groups, repeatedly “making up” for meals with exercise, and dramatic shifts in wardrobe to hide body changes. Physical red flags include dizziness, fainting, gastrointestinal discomfort, menstrual irregularities, cold intolerance, and fatigue.
Causes of ED
- Mood Disorders
- Unhealthy perceptions of body (may be sustained by parental and peer pressure)
- Past traumatic experiences (e.g. Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse)
- Major changes in life (e.g. loss of a friend or family, relationship breakup)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Family history/ diet influence
- Media and environment (e.g. Beauty standards)
Eating disorders are multifactorial. Genetics can confer vulnerability; perfectionism, anxiety sensitivity, and difficulty regulating emotions can increase risk. Weight stigma, teasing, and “clean eating” culture may normalize harmful restriction. Dieting itself is a strong predictor of ED onset, as undernourishment alters mood, cognition, and appetite regulation, entrenching the illness.
Prevention of EDs
- Education for healthy eating, nutrition and coping methods
- Consider consulting a nutritionist or dietician to find out more on what healthy eating looks like for you
- Engage in enjoyable and meaningful physical activities
- Surround yourself with supportive and positive influences
- Communicate with your friends and family about how you feel
Additional protective steps include limiting exposure to triggering media, curating a body-positive social feed, challenging appearance-focused talk, and fostering diverse self-worth (skills, values, relationships) beyond weight or shape. Parents and caregivers can model flexible eating, avoid diet talk, and respond to body comments with empathy.
Treatment for Eating Disorders
✽ Family Therapy for Eating Disorders
Family Therapy is commonly used to help adolescents with anorexia. This form of therapy helps encourage parents to be involved in their child’s recovery. Family members can also help to ensure that steps to recovery are taken home, and not just during recovery. They can also help individuals watch their eating habits and work towards their goals. Family-Based Treatment (FBT) empowers caregivers to support re-nourishment and interrupt disordered behaviours.
✽ Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Eating Disorders
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help individuals identify and challenge dysfunctional thoughts about body image, and learn more adaptive ways of thinking and responding to triggers. Enhanced CBT (CBT-E) is a specialised approach effective across ED diagnoses, focusing on regular eating, reducing dietary restraint, and addressing overvaluation of shape and weight.
✽ Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) for Eating Disorders
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) helps with addressing and regulating negative emotions. Individuals learn to practice mindfulness and are equipped with distress tolerance skills to effectively deal with stressors. DBT skills can reduce binge/purge cycles by improving emotion regulation and impulse control.
✽ Nutritional and Medical Care
Registered dietitians provide structured, compassionate meal plans and education to restore nutritional adequacy without moralising food. Medical monitoring (including labs, ECG, bone health where needed) is essential to address complications and to ensure safe refeeding. Levels of care range from outpatient therapy to day programmes, residential, or inpatient treatment depending on medical and psychological risk.
✽ Adjunct Supports
Peer groups and skills groups foster community and accountability. Treatment of co-occurring conditions (e.g., anxiety, OCD, depression) with psychotherapy and, when appropriate, medication can support recovery. Compassion-focused therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and trauma-informed care may also help.
Helping a Loved One
Approach with empathy, not confrontation. Use “I” statements to share observations, avoid commenting on weight or appearance, and offer practical support (e.g., accompany to appointments, share meals as guided by the care team). Learn ED-informed language (e.g., “nourishment” vs “good/bad foods”) and celebrate progress beyond the scale—flexibility, connection, energy, and valued activities.
Self-Care and Coping
Recovery is a series of small steps. Aim for regular meals and snacks, reduce body checking, and practice self-compassion when slips happen. Build a toolbox: grounding techniques, journaling, mindful movement cleared by your clinician, and scheduling pleasurable, non-food-related activities. Curate supportive media and set boundaries with triggering conversations.
When to Seek Urgent Help
Seek immediate medical care for fainting, chest pain, repeated vomiting, blood in vomit, severe dehydration, a very low heart rate, or inability to keep food/fluids down. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing thoughts of self-harm, contact emergency services now.
We recommend This Video to those who wants to learn more about Eating Disorders therapy.
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