August 3, 2021

Co-Occurring Disorders

About Eating Disorders

Co-Occurring Disorders

Eating disorders often occur alongside a spectrum of other psychiatric and developmental disorders. While this can complicate treatment, understanding these relationships is critical to sustainable recovery.

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Common Co-Occurring Disorders

Certain eating disorders occur more often and can lead to a dual diagnosis with certain other psychiatric and developmental disorders. In general, comorbidities include:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Generalized anxiety disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Bipolar I and II disorders
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorders
Cognitive disorders

August 3, 2021

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder

About Eating Disorders

What is OSFED?

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) is characterized by eating disorder symptoms that cause significant distress and impair social or occupational functioning and/or have significant medical consequences, but do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Though individuals with OSFED fall outside the definitions of the other major eating disorders, this diagnosis nevertheless indicates that an individual is seriously ill.

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What causes OSFED?

Like all eating disorders, OSFED develops over a period of time as a result of a complicated blend of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. There is no single cause to point to and, despite common misconceptions, families and communities of support are not to blame. In fact, they are often recovery’s strongest ally. Many individuals have genetic predispositions to eating disorders that, depending on environmental influences, may or may not be awakened over the course of their lifetime.

Altered hunger and fullness signals
Experiencing a traumatic event
Genetic predisposition and societal pressures (e.g., drive for thinness)
Abnormal brain circuitry and weakened food-related reward pathways
Lack of environmental control and persistent, extreme stress, or minority stress

What to Look For

Being familiar with the signs and symptoms generally associated with eating disorders can help you champion early intervention and recovery.

Gaining or losing weight
Preoccupation with weight, food, appearance, and calorie counting
Excessive physical activity
Change in school or work performance
Sleep disturbances
Mood changes, depression, anxiety, and social isolation
Frequent standing, pacing, and fidgeting
Fatigue, fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness

OSFED Designations

Atypical anorexia nervosa: Motivated by a fear of being overweight, an individual may lose a considerable amount of weight and remain at or above normal weight for their age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health. However, all other signs of anorexia nervosa are present.
Bulimia nervosa (limited duration or low frequency): An individual engages in binge/purge behaviors associated with bulimia nervosa, but less than once a week and/or for less than three months
Binge eating disorder (low frequency and/or limited duration): An individual binges less often than typically seen in binge eating disorder
Purging disorder: An individual repeatedly engages in purging behaviors, but not in binging behaviors
Night eating syndrome: Episodes of binge eating occur at night while an individual is in some stage of sleep

Let Us Help You Recover

If you or a loved one are struggling with OSFED, don’t wait to reach out for help. The earlier eating disorders are treated, the better the outcomes tend to be.

At Veritas Collaborative, we work with you to create an individualized care plan so you or your child get the right treatment at the right time. We offer a full continuum of care, which includes inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient, and virtual programs for children, adolescents, and adults. This allows us to provide best-in-class care and support throughout your recovery journey, even as your needs change. Our treatment programs focus on real-life skills, including hands-on nutrition and culinary experiences that you can take with you for lasting recovery. We encourage family involvement and offer family-based therapy and educational support for children and adolescents.

August 3, 2021

Bulimia Nervosa

About Eating Disorders

What Is Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent binge eating episodes and persistent, inappropriate compensatory behaviors with the hope of avoiding weight gain. Binge eating episodes involve eating, in a discrete period of time, an amount of food that is objectively larger than most individuals would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances. Such episodes of bulimia are accompanied by feelings of self-loathing, disgust, or guilt and a sense of lack of control. Individuals engage in often dangerous compensatory behaviors that may include purging, fasting, compulsive exercise, and/or the use of laxatives or diuretics. Individuals with bulimia nervosa may appear healthy, even though they are very ill. Additionally, their self-concept is unduly influenced by body weight and shape.

Table of Contents
What is bulimia nervosa?
What causes bulimia nervosa?
What should you look for if you worry that someone has bulimia nervosa?
What are the risks of bulimia nervosa?
How can you recover from bulimia nervosa?

If you or someone you know needs help with bulimia, get started today.

Get Help for Bulimia Nervosa

Two women hugging - Bulimia nervosa treatment and information

What causes bulimia nervosa?

Like all eating disorders, bulimia nervosa develops over a period of time as a result of a complicated blend of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. There is no single cause to point to and, despite common misconceptions, families and communities of support are not to blame. In fact, they are often recovery’s strongest ally. Many individuals have genetic predispositions to bulimia nervosa that, depending on environmental influences, may or may not be awakened over the course of their lifetime. Communities of color are disproportionately affected by bulimia nervosa.

Malnutrition-induced changes in physiological processes and altered hunger and fullness signals
Experiencing a traumatic event may tip someone into bulimia
Genetic predisposition and societal pressures (e.g., drive for thinness)
Lack of environmental control and persistent, extreme stress, or minority stress can lead to bulimia

What should you look for if you worry that someone has bulimia nervosa?

Being familiar with the signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa can help you champion early intervention and recovery through bulimia nervosa treatment. Watch for elusive behaviors around mealtimes, inflammation around the mouth and knuckles, exercise-routine rigidity, hiding food, and/or immediately going to the bathroom after a meal. Associated disorders, or “comorbidities,” include major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar I and II disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and substance use disorder.

Inappropriate conflation of body weight and shape with identity can be a sign of someone struggling with bulimia
Distorted body image and fear of weight gain
Eating alone or in secret and consistent retreats after meals is often characteristic of bulimia
Extreme exercise-routine rigidity, refusal to hydrate, and overuse injuries
Abrasions or scars on knuckles, inflammation around mouth, and burst blood vessels in eyes often accompany bulimia

What are the risk of bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa can have extreme medical and physiological consequences that may or may not resolve completely during recovery.

Dangerous, potentially lethal electrolyte imbalances
Bulimia can result in impaired decision-making and impulse control
Delayed wound healing
Tooth decay, muscle fatigue, and irregular bowel activity
Heart palpitations, low pulse, and low blood pressure may be consequences of bulimia
In males: decreased frequency of erections and nocturnal emissions
In females: polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometrial cancer, amenorrhea, difficulty conceiving, and if pregnant, increased risk for miscarriage and postpartum depression

A young woman putting her around around a young man - Bulimia nervosa treatment and information

How can you recover from bulimia nervosa?

If you or a loved one are struggling with binge eating and purging, don’t wait to reach out for help. The earlier bulimia is treated, the better the outcomes tend to be.

At Veritas Collaborative, we work with you to create an individualized care plan so you or your child with bulimia get the right treatment at the right time. We offer a full continuum of care, which includes inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient, and virtual programs for children, adolescents, and adults. This allows us to provide best-in-class care and support throughout your recovery journey, even as your needs change. Our treatment programs focus on real-life skills, including hands-on nutrition and culinary experiences that you can take with you for lasting recovery. We encourage family involvement and offer family-based therapy and educational support for children and adolescents.

Key Takeaways

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise.
The exact causes of bulimia nervosa are unknown, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.
Bulimia nervosa can have serious physical and psychological consequences, including electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal problems, depression, and anxiety.
Treatment for bulimia nervosa typically involves a combination of therapy, medication, and nutritional counseling.
Recovery from bulimia nervosa is possible with appropriate treatment, and it is important to seek help as soon as possible if you or someone you know is struggling with this disorder.

Updated March 2023

Ask for help. You are not alone. Start your path to recovery.

Get Help for Bulimia Nervosa

August 3, 2021

About Eating Disorders

We’re changing the conversation.

What to look for:

Regular displays of emotions that do not fall within a generally acceptable range of emotive responses

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August 3, 2021

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

About Eating Disorders

What is ARFID?

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is characterized by a persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs as a result of eating or feeding disturbances such as an apparent lack of interest in food, avoidance due to the sensory qualities of food, and/or concern over adverse consequences of eating food. These disturbances are not associated with distorted body image or body dissatisfaction, but are associated with significant weight loss or faltering growth/developmental patterns (in children and adolescents); dependence on enteral feeding or oral nutritional supplements; and/or marked interference with psychosocial functioning. These disturbances cannot be better explained by a lack of food, cultural practices, or a concurrent medical condition or mental disorder. Individuals with ARFID may experience extreme emotional dysregulation and anxiety around mealtimes, have a fear of vomiting or choking, and/or undergo thorough testing for chronic abdominal pain with no satisfactory findings.

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What causes ARFID?

Like all eating disorders, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder develops over a period of time as a result of a complicated blend of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. There is no single cause to point to and, despite common misconceptions, families, and communities of support are not to blame. In fact, they are often recovery’s strongest ally. Many individuals have genetic predispositions to ARFID that, depending on environmental influences, may or may not be awakened over the course of their lifetime. The mean age of diagnosis is 11 years; however, symptoms may present in infancy or early childhood.

Malnutrition-induced changes in physiological processes and altered hunger and fullness signals
Experiencing a traumatic event
Genetic predisposition and societal pressures (e.g., drive for thinness)
Abnormal brain circuitry and weakened food-related reward pathways
Temperamental traits
Anxiety

What to Look For

Being familiar with the signs and symptoms can help you champion early intervention and recovery through ARFID treatment. Watch for dysregulated emotions around mealtimes, significant weight loss, and a failure to meet nutritional needs and growth trajectories. Associated disorders, or “comorbidities,” include anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and cognitive disorders.

Weight loss and nutritional deficiencies
Failure to meet growth trajectories
Emotional dysregulation and high anxiety around mealtimes
Chronic abdominal pain lacking an apparent cause
Fears or phobias around illness, choking, or vomiting
Neutral or positive body image

Risks of ARFID

ARFID can have extreme medical and physiological consequences that may or may not resolve completely during recovery.

Cognitive impairment
Delayed puberty or dysregulation of reproductive hormones
Impaired brain functioning and signaling
Weakened food-related reward pathways
Chronic abdominal pain, fatigue, and headaches

Let Us Help You Recover

If you or a loved one are struggling with ARFID, don’t wait to reach out for help. The earlier ARFID is treated, the better the outcomes tend to be.

August 3, 2021

Binge Eating Disorder

About Eating Disorders

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent binge eating episodes that are accompanied by marked distress, a sense of lack of control, and feelings of self-loathing, disgust, or guilt. These episodes involve eating, in a discrete period of time, an amount of food that is objectively larger than what most individuals would eat in a similar period of time, under similar circumstances. Binge eating episodes are associated with eating much more rapidly than normal and/or until uncomfortably full; eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry; and/or eating alone due to embarrassment about the amount one is eating. Unlike bulimia nervosa, these binge episodes are not followed by compensatory behaviors.

Learn more

What causes Binge Eating Disorder?

Like all eating disorders, binge eating disorder develops over a period of time as a result of a complicated blend of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. There is no single cause to point to and, despite common misconceptions, families and communities of support are not to blame. In fact, they are often recovery’s strongest ally. Many individuals have genetic predispositions to binge eating disorder that, depending on environmental influences, may or may not be awakened over the course of their lifetime. Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States and the most prevalent eating disorder among males. The mean age of onset for the disorder is 18 years and the vast majority of individuals who are diagnosed with binge eating disorder also struggle with psychiatric, mood, or anxiety disorders, and/or impulse control and substance use.

Malnutrition-induced changes in physiological processes and altered hunger and fullness signals
Experiencing a traumatic event
Genetic predisposition and societal pressures (e.g., drive for thinness)
Lack of environmental control and persistent, extreme stress, or minority stress

What to Look For

Being familiar with the signs and symptoms can help you champion early intervention and recovery through binge eating disorder treatment. Watch for binge eating episodes that are not associated with compensatory behaviors, but are associated with feelings of lack of control or self-loathing and occur, on average, at least once a week for three months. Associated disorders, or “comorbidities,” include major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar I and II disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Binge eating episodes that occur one or more times a week
Marked distress around binge eating episodes
Avoiding mealtimes and eating alone or in secret
Feelings of lack of control, guilt, shame, self-loathing, or disgust around food or eating

Risks of Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder can have extreme medical and physiological consequences that may or may not resolve completely during recovery.

Chronic pain including headaches, back, and neck pain
Diabetes and hypertension
In males: decreased frequency of erections and nocturnal emissions
In females: polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometrial cancer, and difficulty conceiving

Let Us Help You Recover

If you or a loved one are struggling with binge eating or compulsive overeating, don’t wait to reach out for help. The earlier binge eating is treated, the better the outcomes tend to be.

August 3, 2021

Anorexia Nervosa

About Eating Disorders

What Is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an inability to eat enough food to maintain weight and/or growth trajectories; exceptionally low body weight; an obsessive concern with weight gain; and a distorted body image. Anorexia nervosa has two subtypes and can involve both severe restriction of food intake and binge/purge behaviors. The median age of onset is 12 years old and falling; the disorder has been diagnosed in individuals as young as five. Anorexia nervosa can be life-threatening, with mortality often associated with cardiac complications and suicide.

Table of Contents
What is anorexia nervosa?
What causes anorexia nervosa?
What should you look for if you worry that someone has anorexia nervosa?
What are the risks of anorexia nervosa?
How can you recover from anorexia nervosa?

If you or someone you know needs help with anorexia, reach out today.

Get Help for Anorexia Nervosa

Woman standing against brick wall - Anorexia nervosa treatment and information

What causes anorexia nervosa?

Like all eating disorders, anorexia nervosa develops over a period of time as a result of a complicated blend of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. There is no single cause to point to, and despite common misconceptions, families, and communities of support are not to blame. In fact, they are often recovery’s strongest ally. Many individuals have genetic predispositions to anorexia nervosa that may or may not be awakened by environmental influences over the course of their life.

Biological factors such as genetics, altered brain circuitry, and weakened food-related pathways can all contribute to the development of anorexia. Malnutrition can also induce changes in physiological processes that regulate hunger and fullness signals.
Environmental factors including cultural pressures to conform to appearance standards, weight-based comments and teasing, and media messages can result in an increased risk of anorexia in those susceptible.
Psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, stressors, low self-esteem, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and trauma are among the contributing factors that could tip a vulnerable population group into developing anorexia.

What should you look for if you worry that someone has anorexia nervosa?

Being familiar with the signs and symptoms of anorexia can help you champion early intervention and improve recovery rates for anorexia nervosa. Things to watch for include body checking, significantly restricting food intake, and/or extreme food rigidity that allows for only small quantities of certain foods. Associated disorders, or “comorbidities,” include obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social phobia.

People with anorexia often have a distorted perception of their body image and an intense fear of gaining weight.
Extreme food restriction, obsessive calorie counting, frequent body and weight checking, and excessive or compulsive exercise can all be signs of anorexia.
Hiding or throwing away food and/or skipping meals is commonly seen in people with anorexia.
Rigidity or obsessiveness also often accompanies anorexia, as does an intense fear of food or a specific food.
Cold intolerance, hair loss, and skin and nail discoloration are among the physical symptoms of anorexia.

What are the risks of anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa can have extreme medical and physiological consequences that may or may not resolve completely during recovery.

Anorexia can lead to serious health risks such as electrolyte imbalances, congestive heart failure, and sudden death, as well as gastrointestinal issues like constipation, bloating, and gastroparesis.
Osteoporosis, easy bruising, and the growth of fine white hair all over the body (lanugo) are commonly associated with anorexia.
Anorexia can impair a person’s decision-making abilities and impulse control.
Anorexia can also impact a person’s sexual health and result in decreased frequency of erections and nocturnal emissions, as well as amenorrhea, difficulty conceiving, and increased risk for miscarriage, low birth weight, and postpartum depression.

Two people hugging - Anorexia nervosa treatment and information

How can you recover from anorexia nervosa?

If you or a loved one are struggling with anorexia, don’t wait to reach out for help. The earlier anorexia is treated, the better the outcomes tend to be.

At Veritas Collaborative, we work with you to create an individualized care plan so you or your child with anorexia get the right treatment at the right time. We offer a full continuum of care, which includes inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient, and virtual programs for children, adolescents, and adults of all genders. This allows us to provide best-in-class care and support throughout your recovery journey, even as your needs change. Our treatment programs focus on real-life skills, including hands-on nutrition and culinary experiences that you can take with you for lasting recovery. We encourage family involvement and offer family-based therapy and educational support for children and adolescents.

Key Takeaways

Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental illness that can have life-threatening consequences if not treated promptly and effectively.
The physical symptoms of anorexia nervosa can include extreme weight loss, malnutrition, and organ damage.
Anorexia nervosa is often accompanied by psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
Effective treatment for anorexia nervosa involves a multidisciplinary approach that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of the illness.
Early intervention is crucial for successful recovery from anorexia nervosa, and family and social support can play a critical role in the recovery process.

Updated March 2023

Ask for help. You are not alone. Begin healing today.

Get Help for Anorexia Nervosa

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