Quick Summary
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, and they show up in more than one form. The DSM-5 groups them into eight categories: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), pica, rumination disorder, other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED), and unspecified feeding or eating disorder (UFED).[2] Each has its own pattern, but they share a painful relationship with food, eating, or the body that affects health and daily life.[1] The type matters because it shapes the treatment plan. You do not need to know which type you have to ask for help, and only a qualified professional can diagnose.
Key Takeaways
- Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the best known, but ARFID, pica, rumination disorder, OSFED, and UFED are also recognized diagnoses.
- Body size does not tell you whether someone has an eating disorder or how sick they are. Research on atypical anorexia nervosa found serious illness in teens who were not underweight.[3]
- The types can look alike, which is one reason a professional assessment matters.
- Many of these conditions go untreated. In one national survey, only a minority of cases had ever sought treatment.[4]
- Eating disorders can be treated successfully, and getting help early matters.[1]
What Counts as an Eating Disorder?
The National Institute of Mental Health describes eating disorders as serious illnesses marked by severe disturbances in a person’s eating behaviors. Some people become fixated on weight loss, body weight or shape, and controlling what they eat.[1] That fixation is common, but it is not the whole picture. Some diagnoses involve a lack of interest in food or fear of what eating might do, with no concern about body size at all.
Clinicians use DSM-5 criteria to tell the types apart. Those criteria look at which behaviors are happening, how often, for how long, and how much they disrupt a person’s health and life.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa involves severe restriction of food and avoidance of eating. It often comes with a distorted view of one’s own body, so a person may see themselves as larger than they are even when they are dangerously thin.[5] Some people restrict only. Others also binge or purge.
MedlinePlus lists possible physical effects that include thinning bones, low blood pressure, fainting or dizziness, fatigue, and damage to the heart.[5] It is also an illness of fear and control, which is why “just eat more” advice does not work. If this sounds familiar, our anorexia treatment program explains what care looks like.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa involves episodes of binge eating followed by ways of trying to undo the binge. That can mean self-induced vomiting, fasting, or over-exercising. People with bulimia can be any weight, so the illness is easy to miss from the outside.[5] Shame keeps many people quiet for years.
Repeated purging can cause a chronically sore throat, swollen salivary glands, tooth erosion and decay, acid reflux, severe dehydration, and imbalances in electrolytes such as sodium and potassium.[5] You can read more about bulimia treatment, or see how it compares in Bulimia vs. Binge Eating Disorder.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder, or BED, involves eating a large amount of food in a short time, for example within about two hours, with a sense of losing control. Other signs include eating quickly, eating past comfortable fullness, eating when not hungry, and eating alone out of embarrassment. Many people feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty afterward.[6]
Unlike bulimia, BED does not include regular purging or other ways of making up for a binge.[2] MedlinePlus describes BED as the most common eating disorder in the U.S.[5] It is not a lack of self-control. Causes include genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors, and BED is linked with depression and anxiety.[6] If you are not sure whether it is BED or something else, read Emotional Eating vs. Binge Eating Disorder and see our binge eating disorder treatment page.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
ARFID is a restrictive pattern that is not about body image. A person may eat very little, or only a narrow list of foods. Reasons include sensory issues like texture or smell, low appetite, or fear of choking, vomiting, or stomach pain.[7] The diagnosis requires real effects, such as significant weight loss, nutrient deficiency, reliance on supplements or tube feeding, or disruption to daily life. In children, it can also mean not growing as expected.[7]
ARFID usually starts in childhood, but it can continue into adulthood.[7] A chart review looked at 2,231 children and teens referred to pediatric digestive health clinics in the Boston area. Of those, 33 (1.5%) met full criteria, and two-thirds of them were male. The researchers also noted that ARFID can be hard to tell apart from anorexia nervosa and anxiety disorders.[8]
That is one reason a specialist assessment helps. Learn more in Can ARFID Be Cured?, try our ARFID self-check (informational only), or see ARFID treatment.
Other Specified and Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorders
Not everyone fits the boxes above, and that does not make their illness less real. OSFED is the category for people with significant symptoms and distress who do not meet every criterion for another disorder. Examples include purging disorder, night eating syndrome, atypical anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder that falls below the full criteria.[2] UFED is used when there is not enough information to be more specific.[2]
Atypical anorexia nervosa shows why “less than full criteria” does not mean “less serious.” It describes a person who has lost a lot of weight but is not underweight. In a study of adolescents, those with atypical anorexia nervosa had lost more weight over a longer time than teens with full anorexia nervosa. The groups showed no significant difference in slow heart rate or blood-pressure-related dizziness, and eating and body-image distress was more severe in the atypical group.[3]
Read why atypical anorexia is often missed, or visit our UFED treatment page.
Pica and Rumination Disorder
Pica is eating non-food items, such as paper, chalk, or dirt. For a diagnosis, the behavior must last at least one month, must not fit the person’s developmental stage, and must not be a socially or culturally accepted practice.[9] It can lead to medical problems, so it needs a professional assessment. See our pica treatment page.
Rumination disorder involves repeatedly and effortlessly bringing recently eaten food back up, then re-chewing it and either spitting it out or swallowing it again.[10] Under the DSM-5, the regurgitation cannot be due to a medical condition. Doctors usually run tests to rule out other causes before making the diagnosis.[10] See our rumination disorder treatment page.
Orthorexia and Other Patterns That Do Not Have Their Own Diagnosis
Some patterns cause real harm without being a separate DSM-5 diagnosis. Orthorexia, an unhealthy fixation on eating “clean” or “pure,” is the best-known example. Some clinical references list it as an example of OSFED.[2] It can overlap with anorexia and other conditions. We cover it in Orthorexia vs. Anorexia, and our orthorexia treatment page explains care options. A missing diagnosis is not a reason to wait for help.
How Common Are Eating Disorders?
A national study of 36,306 U.S. adults estimated lifetime rates of about 0.80% for anorexia nervosa, 0.28% for bulimia nervosa, and 0.85% for binge eating disorder. All three were more common in women than in men.[11]
An earlier national survey used older criteria. It found lifetime rates of 0.9%, 1.5%, and 3.5% in women and 0.3%, 0.5%, and 2.0% in men for the same three conditions. Its authors also found that only a minority of cases had ever sought treatment.[4]
The numbers differ because the surveys used different methods and definitions. They also count only people who meet full criteria, so they leave out many people with OSFED, ARFID, or symptoms that have not reached a diagnosis yet. A meta-analysis of 36 studies found that people with eating disorders die at significantly higher rates than expected, with the highest rates in anorexia nervosa.[12] These numbers are not meant to frighten anyone. They are a reason to take symptoms seriously early.
How Eating Disorders Are Diagnosed
Diagnosis usually starts with a conversation about eating habits, body image, daily routines, and mood. A clinician may also check height and weight, vital signs, and lab work to see how the body is coping. A mental health professional then compares what they find with DSM-5 criteria. Because the types can look alike, a good team keeps reassessing as you get care.
Why the Type Matters, and Why It Should Not Stop You
The type helps a team choose the right level of care and therapy. Medical risk, age, and your own needs matter too. Treatment for ARFID, for example, often looks different from treatment for bulimia. But you do not have to match a label before asking for help. If eating, food, or your body is taking over your life, that is enough reason to ask for an assessment. To see the levels of care available, visit our eating disorder treatment page.
When to Reach Out for Help
- Thoughts about food, weight, or body shape take up much of your day.
- You restrict, binge, purge, or over-exercise, and you feel unable to stop.
- You avoid meals, friends, or events because of food.
- You notice dizziness, fainting, a racing or slow heartbeat, or feeling cold all the time.
- Someone who cares about you has voiced concern about how you eat.
- A child or teen is eating a very narrow range of foods, is losing weight, or is not growing as expected.
If you feel faint, have chest pain, or think you are in danger, call 911.
Talking With a Professional
You do not need proof or a diagnosis to start. Describe what you eat, what you avoid, what you do after eating, and how you feel. A primary care provider can check your physical health, and an eating disorder specialist can assess the full picture. If you are a parent or partner, talk about what you have noticed in how your loved one seems and acts rather than arguing about food or weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of eating disorders?
The DSM-5 lists anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID, pica, rumination disorder, OSFED, and UFED.[2]
Which eating disorder is the most common?
MedlinePlus describes binge eating disorder as the most common eating disorder in the U.S.[5] National estimates vary by study and by the criteria used.
Can you have more than one eating disorder?
Symptoms can overlap between types. A clinician will work out which diagnosis fits best and will keep checking as you get care.
Do you have to be underweight to have an eating disorder?
No. Weight alone does not show whether someone has an eating disorder or how serious it is. Atypical anorexia nervosa is one example of a serious illness in a person who is not underweight.[3]
Can men and boys have eating disorders?
Yes. Eating disorders affect people of all genders. Surveys find them more often in women, but men and boys are affected too, and two-thirds of the ARFID cases in one pediatric sample were male.[8] [4]
What if my symptoms do not match any one type?
That is common, and it still deserves care. OSFED and UFED exist for this reason. A professional can help sort out what is going on.
Can eating disorders be treated?
Yes. NIMH states that eating disorders can be treated successfully and that early detection and treatment are important for a full recovery.[1] Plans vary from person to person, and no outcome is guaranteed.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health. Eating Disorders. Accessed September 2026. nimh.nih.gov
- Balasundaram P, Santhanam P. (2023). Eating Disorders. StatPearls, National Library of Medicine. Accessed September 2026. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Sawyer SM, et al. (2016). Physical and psychological morbidity in adolescents with atypical anorexia nervosa. Pediatrics, 137(4):e20154080. Accessed September 2026. doi.org
- Hudson JI, Hiripi E, Pope HG, Kessler RC. (2007). The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61(3):348-358. Accessed September 2026. doi.org
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Eating Disorders. Accessed September 2026. medlineplus.gov
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Binge Eating Disorder: Symptoms and Causes. Accessed September 2026. niddk.nih.gov
- Ramirez Z, Gunturu S. (2024). Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. StatPearls, National Library of Medicine. Accessed September 2026. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Eddy KT, et al. (2015). Prevalence of DSM-5 avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in a pediatric gastroenterology healthcare network. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48(5):464-470. Accessed September 2026. doi.org
- Al Nasser Y, Muco E, Alsaad AJ. (2023). Pica. StatPearls, National Library of Medicine. Accessed September 2026. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Kusnik A, Goosenberg E. Rumination Disorder. StatPearls, National Library of Medicine. Accessed September 2026. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Udo T, Grilo CM. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of DSM-5-defined eating disorders in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Biological Psychiatry, 84(5):345-354. Accessed September 2026. doi.org
- Arcelus J, Mitchell AJ, Wales J, Nielsen S. (2011). Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders: a meta-analysis of 36 studies. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(7):724-731. Accessed September 2026. doi.org
Related Reading
- Eating Disorder Treatment at Eating Disorder Solutions
- Bulimia vs. Binge Eating Disorder
- Atypical Anorexia Nervosa: What It Is and Why It Is Often Missed
- Can ARFID Be Cured?
- Orthorexia vs. Anorexia
Resources
- National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline: (866) 662-1235, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
- Emergency: call 911
This article is general education and is not medical advice.
If you are not sure which type fits, or none seems to, you can still get help. Call Eating Disorder Solutions at (855) 245-0961 to talk with our team.
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