[3]
Rates of other eating disorders are not clear.[1] Rates of eating disorders
appear to be lower in less developed countries.[7]
Bulimia nervosa is a disorder characterized by binge eating and purging, as
well as excessive evaluation of one's self-worth in terms of body weight or
shape.[8] Purging can include self-induced vomiting, over-exercising, and the
use of diuretics, enemas, and laxatives. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by
extreme food restriction and excessive weight loss, accompanied by the fear
of being fat.[9] The extreme weight loss often causes women and girls who
have begun menstruating to stop having menstrual periods, a condition
known as amenorrhea. Although amenorrhea was once a required criterion
for the disorder, it is no longer required to meet criteria for anorexia nervosa
due to its exclusive nature for sufferers who are male, post-menopause, or
who do not menstruate for other reasons.[10] The DSM-5 specifies two
subtypes of anorexia nervosathe restricting type and the binge/purge type.
Those who suffer from the restricting type of anorexia nervosa restrict food
intake and do not engage in binge eating, whereas those suffering from the
binge/purge type lose control over their eating at least occasionally and may
compensate for these binge episodes.[11] The most notable difference
between anorexia nervosa binge/purge type and bulimia nervosa is the body
weight of the person. Those diagnosed with anorexia nervosa binge/purge
type are underweight, while those with bulimia nervosa may have a body
weight that falls within the range from normal to obese.[12][13]
ICD and DSM[edit]
These eating disorders are specified as mental disorders in standard medical
manuals, such as in the ICD-10,[14] the DSM-5, or both.