Types of Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder in which the child thinks she/he is fat and thus restricts eating to just a few hundred calories a day. These children have a fear of gaining weight, a very distorted body image, and often will sneak or hide food avoid eating it. They will appear extremely thin, their hair becomes dull and brittle, and girls will often stop menstruating.

Bulimia is another eating disorder characterized by periods of binging and purging. These children also have a distorted body image, but instead of starving themselves, they will engage in a junk food binge and then feel so guilty that they make themselves throw up. These children may not be super thin, so it is harder to detect.

Restrictive Eating is a less serious form of eating disorder in which children are obsessed with weighing themselves, trying fad diets, and losing weight.