Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating are the most common eating disorders.
These are mental illnesses that manifest themselves in extremely unhealthy eating patterns and are not tied to a specific body type.
3 Main Types of Eating Disorders
According to a recent case study, about 7.4% of females in Singapore are at risk for developing an eating disorder. Although it is more common in young women, it can affect anyone of any age, gender, and background.
Anorexia Nervosa
It is associated with heavy restriction of food intake which leads to significantly low body weight relative to one’s age, sex, and physical health. One has an intense fear of gaining weight or a distorted perception of weight. These feelings often manifest as unhealthy preoccupations with food and exercise or purging behaviours via self-induced vomiting and laxatives.
Bulimia Nervosa
It is frequently associated with recurrent episodes of binge eating which consists of eating a large amount of food (more than the average individual) in a short and/or discrete period of time. These are usually induced by emotions. One may engage in inappropriate compensatory behaviours such as self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, or other medications as well as fasting or excessive exercise.
Binge Eating Disorder
It is also associated with recurrent episodes of binge eating consisting of eating a more-than-average amount of food in a short and/or discrete period of time that one has a lack of control over. It does not involve compensatory behaviours. These binge eating episodes are associated with:
Eating much more rapidly than normal
Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
Eating alone due to feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating
Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed or very guilty afterwards
Risk Factors
Societal pressures such as the importance and emphasis on beauty and "slimness", particularly in Asian societies
Prevalence of eating disorders is also most common during the teenage years and early 20s
Life transitions such as an end of a relationship, death of a loved one, or childhood/sexual abuse
Extracurricular activities, especially those driven by appearance as symbols of social statuses such as in sports and dance
Teasing and bullying
Limited social networks
Weight stigma
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