Eating Disorders: DSM-5 Types, Symptoms, and Cultural Factors

Eating Disorder

A psychiatric condition with disturbed eating behaviors causing distress/impairment.

Major DSM-5 Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder.

OSFED

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder.

Underweight BMI for AN in Adults

BMI below 18.5 kg/m².

Low Weight Percentile for AN in Children

Below the 5th percentile for age, gender, and height.

Subtypes of AN

Restricting type and Binge/Purge type.

Medical Complications in AN

Osteoporosis, amenorrhea, bradycardia, hypotension.

Mortality Risk in AN

Highest of any psychiatric disorder.

Compensatory Behaviors in BN

Vomiting, laxatives, fasting, excessive exercise.

Distinction Between BN and AN

BN does not require low weight; AN does.

Binge Episodes Frequency for BN Diagnosis

At least once a week for 3 months.

Common Medical Complications in BN

Electrolyte imbalance, dental erosion, esophageal tears.

Most Common Eating Disorder in the U.S.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED).

Symptoms of BED Binge Episodes

Eating rapidly, eating when not hungry, guilt/disgust afterward.

Compensatory Behaviors in BED

No.

Purging Disorder

Purging in absence of binge eating.

Night Eating Syndrome

Recurrent eating after evening meal or during the night.

First Clinical Description of BN

Gerald Russell in 1979.

Anorexia Mirabilis

Religious fasting/self-starvation in medieval times.

BED Addition to DSM

DSM-5 in 2013.

Cultural Factor Increasing EDs in the 20th Century

The rise of the thin ideal.

Miss America Study Findings

Contestant body sizes decreased over time.

Minnesota Starvation Study Demonstration

Starvation leads to depression, food obsession, bingeing.

Set-Point Theory

Body resists long-term weight changes by adjusting metabolism.

Men's Likelihood to Seek ED Treatment

Stigma, less recognition, negative treatment attitudes.

Muscle Dysmorphia

Belief of being too small despite muscular build.

Anabolic Steroids in Male EDs

Used to increase muscle mass but cause health issues.

Ethnicity Influence on ED Recognition

Biases cause under-recognition in minorities.

Groups Less Likely to Receive Treatment Referrals

Latino and Native American individuals.

Acculturation

Assimilation into dominant culture, linked to ED risk in some groups.

Fiji TV Study Findings

Western media increased body dissatisfaction and ED symptoms.

Cultural Bound Nature of AN

No, found across cultures and history.

Cultural Bound Nature of BN

Yes, strongly linked to Western cultural ideals.

Weight Stigma

Negative stereotypes and discrimination toward higher-weight individuals.

Onset of Weight Stigma

In childhood—peers rate overweight children less favorably.