Module 3.4 Vocabulary: Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders

Disordered Eating

A range of irregular eating habits that indicate an unhealthy relationship with food or body image. These behaviors may or may not meet the criteria for a diagnosed eating disorder.

Eating Disorder

A serious mental illness involving significant disturbances in eating behaviors that negatively affect physical health, emotional well-being, and daily life.

Orthorexia

A pattern of disordered eating characterized by an unhealthy obsession with eating foods considered healthy, pure, or clean.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder involving severe restriction of food intake, intense fear of gaining weight, and disturbances in how a person experiences body weight or shape.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder involving repeated episodes of binge eating followed by behaviors intended to compensate for the food consumed, such as vomiting or excessive exercise.

Binge-Eating Disorder

An eating disorder characterized by repeated episodes of consuming unusually large amounts of food while feeling unable to control eating, without regular compensatory behaviors.

Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

An eating disorder involving avoidance or restriction of food because of sensory sensitivities, fear of unpleasant consequences, or limited interest in eating, rather than concerns about body weight or shape.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

A diagnosis involving serious eating-related symptoms that cause distress or impairment but do not meet every requirement for another specific eating disorder.

Body Image

The thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and perceptions a person has about the appearance and functioning of their body.

Negative Body Image

A pattern of dissatisfaction, criticism, or negative feelings about one’s body or physical appearance.

Body Dysmorphia

Commonly used to describe distorted concerns about appearance; clinically, body dysmorphic disorder involves persistent preoccupation with perceived physical flaws and is distinct from an eating disorder.

Restrictive Eating

Intentionally limiting the amount or variety of food consumed, sometimes to a degree that prevents the body from receiving adequate nutrition.

Calorie Restriction

Deliberately reducing the number of calories consumed, which can become harmful when excessive or associated with disordered eating.

Binge Eating

Consuming an unusually large amount of food within a limited period while experiencing a loss of control over eating.

Purging

Using behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives to try to compensate for food consumed.

Compensatory Behaviors

Actions taken to try to offset food consumption, such as fasting, purging, or excessive exercise.

Malnutrition

A condition that develops when the body does not receive the nutrients or energy it needs to function properly.

Dehydration

A condition that occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, potentially affecting circulation, kidneys, and other organs.

Electrolytes

Minerals, including sodium, potassium, and calcium, that help regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions, nerve signals, and heart function.

Electrolyte Imbalance

An unhealthy change in the levels of important minerals in the body that can interfere with normal muscle, nerve, and heart activity.

Cardiovascular System

The body system consisting of the heart and blood vessels that circulates blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body.

Heart Arrhythmia

An abnormal heart rhythm that may develop when electrolyte levels become dangerously unbalanced.

Muscle Atrophy

The weakening or shrinking of muscle tissue, which can occur when the body does not receive enough energy or nutrients.

Digestive System

The group of organs responsible for breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste.

Acid Reflux

A condition in which stomach acid flows backward into the esophagus, potentially causing irritation, discomfort, or damage.

Constipation

A condition involving infrequent or difficult bowel movements that may result from inadequate food intake, dehydration, or changes in digestive functioning.

Stomach Rupture

A rare, life-threatening emergency in which the stomach wall tears, potentially associated with extreme stomach distension.

Nervous System

The brain, spinal cord, and nerves that control communication, movement, sensation, and many body functions.

Fainting (Syncope)

A temporary loss of consciousness caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, which may occur with dehydration, low blood pressure, or inadequate nutrition.

Seizure

A sudden episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that may cause changes in awareness, movement, or behavior.

Endocrine System

The body’s system of glands and hormones that regulates growth, metabolism, reproduction, and other essential processes.

Hormonal Imbalance

A disruption in normal hormone levels that may affect growth, reproduction, metabolism, and other body functions.

Amenorrhea

The absence of menstrual periods, which can occur when inadequate nutrition or energy availability disrupts reproductive hormones.

Osteoporosis

 A condition in which bones become weak and fragile, increasing the risk of fractures.

Metabolism

The collection of chemical processes through which the body converts food into energy and supports essential life functions.

Insulin Resistance

A condition in which the body’s cells respond less effectively to insulin, making it more difficult to regulate blood sugar.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

A chronic condition involving elevated blood sugar levels because the body does not use insulin effectively or cannot produce enough insulin.

Lanugo

Fine, soft hair that may develop on the body of a severely malnourished person as the body attempts to conserve warmth.

Anemia

 A condition in which the blood lacks sufficient healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry adequate oxygen throughout the body.

Immune System

The body’s defense system that protects against infections and illnesses and may become weakened by inadequate nutrition.

Kidney Failure

A serious condition in which the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste and maintain proper fluid and electrolyte balance.

Risk Factor

A characteristic, experience, or condition that increases the likelihood of developing a disease or disorder without necessarily causing it.

Perfectionism

A tendency to set extremely high standards and judge oneself harshly for perceived mistakes, which may contribute to eating disorder risk.

Social Isolation

A lack of meaningful social connections or interactions that may contribute to emotional distress and increase vulnerability to mental health problems.

Co-occurring Disorders

Two or more physical or mental health conditions that exist in the same person at the same time, such as an eating disorder and an anxiety disorder.

Individual Therapy

A form of mental health treatment in which a person meets one-on-one with a trained therapist to address thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Family Therapy

A treatment approach that involves family members in supporting recovery, improving communication, and understanding how an eating disorder affects the individual and family.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

A structured treatment program providing several hours of professional care on multiple days each week while allowing patients to live at home.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

A treatment program providing intensive medical or mental health services for much of the day without requiring an overnight hospital stay.

Residential Treatment

A level of care in which a person lives at a specialized treatment facility and receives structured, ongoing support for recovery from an eating disorder.