Eating Disorders

Eating disorders affect people from all walks of life, and those of us who live in New Jersey and the broader Tri-State Area are no exception. It's estimated that as many as 9% of people in New Jersey, for example, will be affected by an eating disorder at some point in their life. Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that impact physical health and emotional well-being. This article provides an overview of the most common types, links to further reading, some treatment locations, and local and national resources.

Anorexia Nervosa (AN)

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading individuals to restrict caloric intake and maintain a body weight below what is considered healthy. Subtypes include the restrictive type, where individuals limit food intake, and the binge-eating/purging type, where they may also engage in binge eating and/or purging behaviors.

Bulimia Nervosa (BN)

Bulimia nervosa involves recurrent episodes of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain. Individuals with bulimia typically feel a lack of control during binge episodes, and these cycles often have a profound impact on emotional well-being and physical health.

Binge-Eating Disorder (BED)

Binge-eating disorder is marked by recurrent episodes of consuming unusually large amounts of food in a short period, accompanied by feelings of lack of control. Unlike bulimia, binge eating is not followed by compensatory behaviors. BED is often associated with feelings of shame, guilt, or distress about eating habits, and it can lead to weight gain and associated health issues.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

ARFID is characterized by an eating or feeding disturbance (e.g., avoidance based on sensory characteristics of food, fear of choking or vomiting) that leads to significant weight loss, nutritional deficiency, dependence on supplements, or interference with psychosocial functioning. Unlike anorexia, ARFID is not related to concerns about body image.

Pica

Pica involves the persistent ingestion of non-food substances (e.g., dirt, chalk, paper) over a period of at least one month, and it is inappropriate to the developmental level of the individual. This disorder can pose significant health risks depending on the substances consumed and may occur alongside other mental health conditions.

Rumination Disorder

Rumination disorder is characterized by the repeated regurgitation of food, which may be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out. This behavior is not due to a medical condition, and it typically occurs without associated nausea. It can lead to nutritional deficiencies and social impairment.

When an individual doesn't meet all of the diagnostic criteria for a

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

OSFED is a category for eating disorders that cause significant distress or impairment but do not meet the full criteria for any specific disorder. Examples include atypical anorexia nervosa (AN without low body weight), purging disorder (purging without binge eating), and night eating syndrome (excessive eating during nighttime hours).

Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder (UFED)

UFED applies to cases where symptoms of an eating disorder are present but do not meet the criteria for specific diagnoses or OSFED. This category is used when clinicians choose not to specify the exact nature of the disorder, typically in cases where further assessment is needed.

A note about the last two diagnoses listed above: Terms like "unspecified," "other specified," and "not otherwise specified" are used when a person's symptoms don't fully fit into a single, defined mental health diagnosis. These terms allow mental health professionals to recognize and address symptoms that don't match a specific category, either due to limited information or because they're atypical. This approach offers flexibility in diagnosis, ensuring that people receive support even if their symptoms are unique or don't align perfectly with existing categories. It reflects the complexity of mental health, where individual experiences don't always fit into neat labels.

• Atlantic Health: Pediatric Eating Disorders treated in several locations.
• Robert Wood John University Hospital - Eating disorders treated in several locations.
• Hidden River - Residential eating disorder treatment for girls, adolescents, and young women in Chester, NJ.
• Hilltop Behavioral Health - Located in Summit, NJ. Eating disorders treated, among other conditions.

https://www.rwjbh.org/treatment-care/mental-health-and-behavioral-health/conditions/eating-disorders/

Learn More About Eating Disorders

• Health Line: Common Eating Disorders
• Mayo Clinic: Eating Disorders
• Psychiatry.org: What are eating disorders?
• Cleveland Clinic: Eating Disorders

Online Resources and Organizations

• National Eating Disorder Association
• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
• Project Heal
• Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders
• Eating Disorder Hope

Sources

• Eating Disorders The Lancet: Volume 395, Issue 10227, p899-911, March 14, 2020.
• Current Discoveries and Future Implications of Eating DisordersInt J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jul 8;20(14):6325.
• NIH Stat PearlsStatPearls - January 2024
• NIMH: Eating Disorders - What You Need to Know