Eating disorders and body image

Medicine21™ › Health topics › Nutrition › Eating disorders and body image

If someone you know seems unusually preoccupied with food and their weight, has strange eating rituals or sneaks off to the bathroom straight after meals, they might be dealing with an eating disorder.

There are many different types of eating disorders from mild through to severe cases that can have dramatic health consequences and even result in death. Treatment is available to help people with disordered eating to develop a healthy attitude towards food and in turn lead healthier lives.

While many people have heard of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, there are several other eating disorders that often come under the name ‘other specified feeding and eating disorders’ (OSFED). These generally refer to people who might have many of the symptoms of one or more types of eating disorder, but who don’t meet all the criteria for a diagnosis of any single disorder.

Head to Health, an online gateway funded by the Australian Government that can help you find free and low-cost, trusted phone and online mental health resources, including information about eating disorders. Or find out more below.

Eating disorders

An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition that involves an unhealthy obsession with eating, exercise or body shape.

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder and a serious mental illness. A person with anorexia nervosa restricts their energy intake,

Binge-eating disorder (BED)

Binge-eating disorder is a type of eating disorder. A person with binge-eating disorder will frequently eat very large quantities of food

Body dysmorphic disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental illness where a person believes there is a flaw or defect in their body and this leads to distress

Body image

Body image refers to the way you see your physical self — your body — and the thoughts and feelings that are caused by the way you see it.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder. An eating disorder is not a choice but a complex mental health condition.

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