Despite the name, eating disorders involve more than just food. It is a severe mental health condition that requires medical and psychological intervention from professionals to treat. These disorders are described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
Twenty million American women and ten million American men suffer from or have previously suffered from an eating disorder. This article examines the symptoms of six of the most prevalent eating disorders.
What Do Eating Disorders Entail?
A variety of psychological conditions can result in unhealthy dietary patterns. The obsession may begin with diet, physique, or weight. If left untreated, an eating disorder can have devastating effects on health and even result in mortality. Eating disorders are characterized by numerous symptoms. However, the majority involve severe food restriction, compulsive eating, excessive exercise, or vomiting.
Despite the fact that eating disorders can affect individuals of any age, adolescents and young women are most susceptible. By age 20, up to 13% of youth may have developed an eating disorder.
