What Are The Different Types of Eating Disorders?

Compulsive overeating was rarely, if ever, treated, although it was probably somewhat recognized in the treatment community. Binge Eating Disorder was lumped into the appropriate corresponding condition - either bulimia or compulsive overeating.

Differences between types of eating disorders

While I saw many variations of EDs in treatment, physicians, psychologists and therapists (and those who influence the DSM - the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders) have finally begun recognizing the differences between the disorders. As a result, there are various distinctions between the ED diagnoses. Treatment, in general, is similar no matter what ED you are dealing with; yet there are subtle distinctions between the types that can be important for treatment purposes.

What I experienced in treatment and as a therapist

While in treatment many, many years ago (please don't ask!! but there is a milestone coming up ...) I saw a range of behaviors in the patients that were, as of yet, not given specific names to distinguish them from the common eating disorders diagnoses. Some who had diabetes used their insulin to control their weight. There is now an informal diagnosis for this. Others obsessed over healthy eating. There is now an informal diagnosis for this. Still others obsessed over muscle definition. Again, a term has been developed for this.

Knowing the difference

It is important to remember that there is often crossover between the various disorders. For example, one person may strictly fall into the anorexic diagnosis while another may have both anorexic and bulimic tendencies or episodes. The diagnosis would still likely be anorexia with a specified type attached to it, but if you are unsure what type you are dealing with, make sure you review the different types of eating disorders listed below.

• What is Anorexia
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge Eating
• Compulsive Overeating
• Diabulimia
• Orthorexia
• Bigorexia - Muscle Dysmorphia
• EDNOS - Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
• Purging Disorder
• Pica
• Nocturnal Sleep-Related Eating Disorder - NS RED
• Night Eating
• Prader-Willi Syndrome
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Go from Types of Eating Disorders back to Eating Disorders 411

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