Anorexia nervosa is characterized by severe weight loss due to self-starvation. They may constantly think about losing weight, not eat enough, exercise a lot to lose weight, stop having menstrual periods, and develop malnutrition or starve to death. A person with bulimia nervosa may exercise too much or starve him or herself after a binge instead of vomiting. They become dehydrated, damage their digestive track or develop osteoporosis. They may also experience an irregular heartbeat or have irregular menstrual periods.
Bulimics tend to experience poor impulse control.
The third type of eating disorders is the binge eating disorder. This person may eat a lot of food in a short time without purging afterwards, and they may eat three meals each day plus frequent snacks. This person may not consume large amounts of food during binges but rather overeat constantly throughout the day. Successful treatment can save the life of someone with an eating disorder. Treatment usually includes a combination of psychological counseling, behavioral therapy, nutritional counseling, and gradually working toward an ideal weight.