Eating disorders are a group of mental disorders that are characterized by abnormal behaviors related to eating. Stress, perfectionism, difficulties with accepting one’s own appearance, emotional instability and excessive need for control play an important role in their development.
Types of eating disorders
The most common eating disorders are:
- Anorexia nervosa – means an obsessive desire to reduce body weight. A person suffering from anorexia dramatically reduces the amount of food they eat, which leads to nutritional deficiencies.
- Bulimia (mental gluttony) – is characterized by paroxysmal consumption of large amounts of food and then trying to get rid of it by provoking vomiting or using laxatives.
- Night eating syndrome – is a disorder bordering on eating and sleep disorders. It means overeating at night, which often causes a sense of shame.
- Compulsive eating – as in the case of bulimia, there are episodes of binge eating. However, in this case, they do not go hand in hand with an attempt to get rid of food from the body.
- Distorted appetite – or Pica syndrome, in which a person feels a strong appetite for inedible things.
Treatment of eating disorders
Psychotherapy plays a fundamental role in the treatment of eating disorders. Very good results are brought by both cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic and systemic therapy. A psychotherapist helps the patient understand the causes of abnormal eating behaviors and find ways to safely manage their emotions. Sometimes it is necessary to include pharmacotherapy or therapies that counteract the physical effects of the disease, such as dehydration or electrolyte disorders.