EATING DISORDERS

• Key traits: Extreme restriction of food intake, intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image.
  
  

• Health risks: Malnutrition, heart problems, osteoporosis, infertility, death in severe cases.

• Key traits: Cycles of binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use).
  
  

• Health risks: Electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal issues, dental problems, heart complications. 

• Key traits: Recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food, often quickly and to the point of discomfort, without purging.
  
  

• Health risks: Obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, emotional distress. 

• Key traits: Eating very little or avoiding certain foods, not due to body image concerns but possibly sensory issues, fear of choking, or past trauma.
  
  

• Health risks: Nutritional deficiencies, developmental delays (in children), social isolation. 

• Key traits: Significant disordered eating that doesn't meet full criteria for the above categories but still causes distress and impairment. 

Myth: Only young, thin women get eating disorders.

Fact: Eating disorders can affect people of all body sizes, genders, and ages.

Myth: Eating disorders are a choice.

Fact: They are complex mental illnesses with biological and psychological roots.

Myth: You can tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them.

Fact: Many people with eating disorders look “healthy” but are struggling internally.