Eating disorders are serious mental health issues that can have lasting impacts on an individual’s physical and emotional health. 
Medically reviewed by Dr Rehaam Ali Khan 



They often go undiagnosed and can cause significant distress and difficulty in everyday life. The most common types of eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED).

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that causes people to fear gaining weight and become fixated on having a thin figure. Those who suffer from Anorexia may restrict their food intake to the point of severe malnourishment. 

Bulimia Nervosa is another type of eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing on food and then purging afterwards. Purging can take the form of self-induced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, or over exercising to compensate for any calories taken in.

Binge Eating Disorder involves regular episodes of consuming large amounts of food without any purging afterwards. Binge eating episodes usually occur very quickly with a person feeling a lack of control while engaging in the behaviour.

Finally, Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED) is used to describe disordered eating behaviours that don’t meet all criteria for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. OSFED may involve regular cycles of restrictive dieting or other forms of disordered eating such as purging but not as frequently as with other types of eating disorders.

No matter what type you have, it's important to get help if you feel like your relationship with food has become disordered. Professional treatment may include therapy, nutrition education and medical monitoring to ensure safety during recovery. It's never too late to start healing - seeking professional help can make all the difference in getting your life back on track!