Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is characterised by significant restriction of food intake, accompanied by preoccupation with weight and shape, and extreme fear of weight gain. As a result of poor nourishment a person with Anorexia Nervosa can become seriously compromised in many areas of their life, including physical and mental health, and social and emotional wellbeing.

'Atypical' Anorexia Nervosa

Not all people with a diagnosis or Anorexia Nervosa are in the very low weight range. A diagnosis of Atypical Anorexia Nervosa is used when someone meets all of the behavioural and psychological criteria for Anorexia Nervosa, but they are not in a low weight range. Recent research suggests that Atypical Anorexia Nervosa may in fact be more common than the 'typical' version of the disorder, and due to a lack of recognition many people with this illness may not be accessing appropriate treatment. It is important to note however that ‘Atypical’ Anorexia Nervosa can be just as serious as the more commonly recognised form of the disorder, and needs to be treated seriously.

More information is available from the National Eating Disorders Collaboration.

ARFID

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is characterised by lack of interest, avoidance and aversion to food and eating, which is not due to poor body image or concerns with weight and shape. A person with ARFID often has significant sensory responses to certain foods, and heightened anxiety about eating foods which are unfamiliar of uncomfortable for them. ARFID can result in poor nutritional intake and challenges in social environments.

More information is available from the National Eating Disorders Collaboration.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge Eating Disorder is a diagnosis characterised by frequent episodes in binge eating, or consuming a large amount of food in a short period of time. During the binge period the person usually feels a loss of control and/or a high level of distress. Binge Eating is very different to occasionally eating a larger portion of food than you may be comfortable with, it instead relates to episodes of eating which can leave a person feeling extremely uncomfortable and distressed, with potentially signficant impacts on physical and mental health.

More information is available from the National Eating Disorders Collaboration.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa is a condition with two main features:

1. Episodes of binge eating in which a person consumes a large amount of food in a short period of time, with a feeling of loss of control while eating, followed by;

2. Compensatory behaviours used as a mechanism of weight control in response to the binge. These behaviours may include self-induced vomiting, laxative use, extreme exercise etc.

These behaviours can become compulsive and difficult to control, and can lead to obsessive thoughts about eating and body image.

More information is available from the National Eating Disorders Collaboration.

OSFED

A person with a diagnosis of Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED) has some of the symptoms of other Eating Disorders but may not clearly fit with another diagnosis. This doesn't mean the diagnosis is any less serious thank other Eating Disorders - a person with a diagnosis of OSFED may also have very disturbed eating behaviours, and/or compensatory behaviours, and/or body image distress.

OSFED is one of the most commonly diagnosed Eating Disorders, reflecting the individual differences that may occur in presentation.

More information is available from the National Eating Disorders Collaboration.