Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, which leads to severe restriction of food intake and excessive weight loss. Individuals with anorexia nervosa often perceive themselves as overweight even when they are underweight. This disorder can lead to serious health complications, including malnutrition, bone loss, heart problems, and, in severe cases, death. It commonly involves behaviors such as extreme dieting, excessive exercise, and, in some cases, binge eating followed by purging. Anorexia nervosa primarily affects adolescent girls and young women, though it can occur in people of all genders and ages.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as vomiting, excessive exercise, fasting, or misuse of laxatives. During binge episodes, individuals consume large amounts of food in a short period, often feeling a loss of control over their eating. These episodes are followed by feelings of guilt, shame, and distress, leading to the compensatory behaviors. Unlike anorexia nervosa, people with bulimia nervosa usually maintain a normal weight or may be slightly overweight. This disorder can lead to severe physical health problems, including electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal issues, dental problems, and heart complications.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming large quantities of food in a short period, accompanied by a feeling of loss of control during the binge. Unlike bulimia nervosa, these episodes are not followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise. People with BED often experience feelings of shame, distress, or guilt about their eating habits, which can lead to eating in secret. BED can result in significant physical health issues such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychological problems like depression and anxiety. It affects individuals across all age groups and genders.

ARFID, or Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, is an eating disorder characterized by an individual’s persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and energy needs. This can result in significant weight loss, nutritional deficiency, dependence on nutritional supplements, or marked interference with social functioning. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not driven by body image concerns but can be associated with a lack of interest in eating, sensory sensitivities to food textures, colors, or smells, or a fear of adverse consequences of eating, such as choking or vomiting.

OSFED
The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) classifies subclinical eating disorders under the category “Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder” (OSFED). This category is used for presentations of feeding or eating behaviors that cause clinically significant distress or impairment but do not meet the full criteria for any of the other specific feeding and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder.