• Extremely low body weight, or body weight much lower than one's body was genetically meant to be
• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
• Distorted body image: sees self as fat
• Undue influence of body weight or shape on how one evaluates one's self
• Absent or irregular menstruation
• May or may not engage in purging behaviors

 
Bulimia

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating
• Feelings of lack of control over eating during binges
• Purging through use of vomiting, abuse of laxatives or diuretics, fasting/dieting or exercise
• Can be above, below or normal body weight

Compulsive Eating
(Also known as Binge Eating Disorder)

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating or unconscious continual eating without the use of purging
• May engage in fasting or dieting behaviors
• Can be at normal to obese body weight

 
Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is a relatively recently recognized disorder (it is
sometimes referred to as compulsive overeating). Some researchers believe
it is the most common of the eating disorders affecting millions of
Americans. Similar to bulimia nervosa, those with binge eating disorder
frequently consume large amounts of food while feeling a lack of control
over their eating. However, this disorder is different from bulimia nervosa
because people with binge eating disorder usually do not purge (i.e.
vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise, etc) their bodies of the food they
consume during a binge episode.

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode is characterized by:

1. Eating a larger amount of food than normal during a short period of time
(within any two hour period)
2. Lack of control over eating during the binge episode (i.e. the feeling
that one cannot stop eating).
 

1. Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
2. Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry
3. Eating much more rapidly than normal
4. Eating alone because you are embarrassed by how much you're eating
5. Feeling disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating

• Marked distress regarding binge eating is present
• Binge eating occurs, on average, at least 2 days a week for six months
• The binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate
  compensatory behavior (i.e. purging, excessive exercise, etc.) and does not
  occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa.

Disordered Eating And Body Image Disturbance

These terms described patterns and symptoms that are not severe enough to
meet an eating disorder diagnosis but still cause significant distress.
Because chronic dieting is accepted as the norm in our culture, the
discomfort caused by this pervasive problem often goes unrecognized.

 
Common Signs of Disordered Eating and Body Image Disturbance