Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa dominate the eating disorder world in terms of news and research. But what other eating disorders exist? The Eating Disorders category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV), has no criteria for any other specific disorders. But it does include a diagnosis called eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) that encompasses some of the eating disturbances that exist. Of the issues described below, binge-eating disorder, purging disorder, night eating syndrome, some kinds of emotional eating, and perhaps orthorexia nervosa can be classified in the EDNOS category.
Binge-Eating Disorder
One eating problem that is rapidly gaining public exposure is binge-eating disorder (BED). Stated simply, binge eaters eat abnormal quantities of food in relatively short periods of time. The next version of the DSM (the fifth edition) seems likely to include BED as an individual diagnosis. BED is an example of an eating disturbance that qualifies as an EDNOS.
- Should binge-eating disorder be a formal diagnosis?
- Possible diagnostic criteria for BED
- Symptoms of binge-eating disorder
- What happens in a binge?
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy for BED
- Drug therapy for BED
Emotional Eating
Emotional concerns often are at the root of binge-eating disorder and other eating disorders. Eating to soothe emotions makes it much harder to experience the emotions fully and deal with them well.
- Take the quiz: Are you an emotional eater?
- Understanding emotional eating
- Breaking free from emotional eating
Lesser-Known Eating Disorders and Eating Problems
Purging disorder: In terms of eating behaviors, one might think of binge-eating disorder as bulimia nervosa without the purging. Thinking the same way, purging disorder is bulimia nervosa without the binging.
Is purging disorder just a subtype of bulimia?
Night eating syndrome: Sometimes it's not what you eat, but when you eat it. When a person eats almost all of his food at night, it becomes disruptive.
Night eating syndrome makes sleep a problem
Orthorexia nervosa: "Orthorexia" is a term coined to describe an unhealthy obsession with eating only healthy food. It's not clear whether this phenomenon is an eating disturbance, an anxiety disorder, or something else.
Orthorexia nervosa takes health to the extreme
Calorie restriction: We're not talking about a simple diet here. Calorie restriction is focused on establishing a new lifestyle -- eating a very small number of calories while attempting to get all the proper nutrients. In practice, it looks much more like a disorder than a healthy choice.
Is calorie restriction just chasing after wind?
Other Eating Problems in Children
Some disordered eating seems to exist only in children, although the following disorders can be found in adults as well. Rumination disorder and pica, described below, are classified in the DSM as "feeding and eating disorders of infancy or early childhood" with other disorders that normally arise at that developmental stage. Prader-Willi syndrome does not exist in the DSM, perhaps because its origins are known to be genetic.
Rumination disorder: Ruminating is a cow does when it chews its cud, which is really regurgitated food that needs the digestion aid of further chewing. Rumination disorder in children (and some adults) involves involuntary regurgitation of food that may be chewed and swallowed again.
Rumination disorder often misdiagnosed
Pica: There's nothing that says an eating problem has to involve food! A person who with pica eats non-food substances like paint or dirt.
Pica's causes, risks, and treatment options
Prader-Willi syndrome: "That kid never stops eating!" It's a joke in some households, but not when a child has Prader-Willi syndrome. These kids have a genetic disorder, and they literally can't stop eating. In some circumstances, it can be life-threatening.
Prader-Willi a major challenge for parents
What About You?
Perhaps you've read through this list looking for a lesser-known eating disorder that describes you. If you're not sure whether you should be concerned about your eating, take a quick 26-item quiz that can help you determine whether it makes sense to check with a professional.
