There are a many types of eating disorders but the most common ones that we are going to be discussing are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulemia and Binge Eating. Some other key words that you will be learning are compulsive eating, malnutrition, body dysmorphia, and purging.

Anorexia or Anorexia Nervosa

Image 1

Anorexia or Anorexia Nervosa, can mean "without appetite". People with Anorexia feel that they are too fat and because of that, they simply won't eat. Have you ever been in one of those Fun Houses at a carnival or county fair? Remember those funny looking mirrors that make you look goofy? This is how people with anorexia really think they look like. They could be the skinniest person in the world and think they look fat (see Image 1). This is where body dysmorphia, or Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) comes in. Think back to when you had a zit on your nose. You're sitting in class and you can feel it growing. It's all you think about. You touch it, pick at it, rub it, look at it in the mirror every chance you get. This is what people are like when they have BDD. They can't stop thinking about the pudginess around their waist, of the lack of muscles they have in their arms. Maybe they don't like to get their picture taken or are constantly comparing themselves to others. They constantly obsess over their body and go to great lengths to try and fix it. Anorexia is like this but more about a person's weight and whether or not they look skinny enough. This can lead to malnutrition because people with this disorder don't get enough nutrients in the body that it needs.

Bulimia Watch Video

Video 1

Bulimia is like Anorexia but instead, people will eat and eat, feel gross about it, and then purge. Purging means "getting rid of all of it" by forcing themselves to throw up or taking laxatives to poop it out. Watch Video 1. This short clip shows Andrew, who is bulimic, and his poor eating habits. This can be really hard on the body and you will learn more in this video and your reading.

Binge Eating

Image 3

Binge Eating, which can also be called compulsive overeating, can be like Bulemia where people excessively eat, like a lot, (see Image 3) but don't purge; they just eat way too much! This has a lot to do with some kind of emotional problems. It can lead to obesity, which can lead to diabetes, which can then lead to heart disease.

Graphic References

AETV. "Intervention: Andrew's Bulimia: Binging & Purging | A&E." YouTube. YouTube, 01 Feb. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijR839tZaQ0>.

Binge Eating. Digital image. Full Issue. N.p., 12 Mar. 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.fullissue.com/binge-eating.html>.

Female Showing Signs of Anorexia Nervosa. Digital image. Blogspot. N.p., 19 Aug. 2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2016. <http://disuatupencarian.blogspot.com/2011/08/anorexia-nervosa-is-complex-eating.html>.