Types of Eating Disorders and How They Differ

Explore how Eating Disorders may affect routines, relationships, work, school, sleep, and overall well-being. Get clear information from Tinka Health Services.

Eating disorders are a group of serious mental and physical health conditions involving persistent disturbances in eating behavior, food intake, body image, or behaviors used to influence weight and shape.

The main types include:

Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Binge-eating disorder
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
Other specified feeding or eating disorder
Unspecified feeding or eating disorder
Pica
Rumination disorder

These conditions differ in their central eating patterns, underlying motivations, physical effects, and treatment needs. However, they may share symptoms such as food restriction, loss-of-control eating, shame, secrecy, anxiety around meals, nutritional problems, and interference with daily functioning.

Eating disorders are not defined by appearance alone. A person can have a serious eating disorder at any body size, and someone who appears physically healthy may still have significant nutritional, psychiatric, or medical complications. Eating disorders can affect people of different ages, sexes, racial and ethnic backgrounds, identities, and body weights.

At Tinka Health Services, eligible patients in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia may receive psychiatric evaluation, assessment of co-occurring mental health symptoms, medication management when clinically appropriate, therapy-informed support, individualized care planning, and telehealth mental health care.

Eating-disorder treatment often requires coordinated medical, nutritional, and psychological care. Tinka Health Services may recommend additional services when specialized psychotherapy, nutritional treatment, physical monitoring, or a higher level of care is needed.

Tinka Health Services is not an emergency service.

What Are the Main Differences Between Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are primarily distinguished by:

The person’s eating behavior
Whether food restriction is present
Whether binge-eating episodes occur
Whether compensatory behaviors occur
Whether body-image concerns drive the behavior
Whether food avoidance is related to sensory discomfort or fear
Whether nonfood substances are eaten
Whether food is repeatedly regurgitated
The degree of nutritional or medical impairment
How frequently and how long symptoms occur

For example:

Anorexia nervosa centers on significant food restriction, low body weight, fear of weight gain, and disturbances in how weight or shape is experienced.
Bulimia nervosa involves recurrent binge eating followed by behaviors intended to compensate for eating.
Binge-eating disorder involves recurrent loss-of-control binge eating without regular compensatory behavior.
ARFID involves restrictive or avoidant eating without weight- or shape-related motivation.
Pica involves eating nonfood substances.
Rumination disorder involves repeatedly bringing food back up after eating.

Other specified and unspecified eating-disorder diagnoses may be used when clinically significant symptoms do not meet every criterion for one of the more specific conditions. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, ARFID, OSFED, pica, and rumination disorder as distinct feeding and eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa involves restricting food intake in a way that results in significantly low body weight relative to the person’s age, health, development, and individual circumstances.

The condition may also involve:

Intense fear of gaining weight
Persistent behavior that prevents weight gain
Strong preoccupation with body shape or weight
Distorted perception of body size
Excessive influence of weight or shape on self-worth
Difficulty recognizing the seriousness of the condition

Possible behaviors include:

Skipping meals
Eating extremely small portions
Avoiding high-energy foods
Following rigid food rules
Counting calories repeatedly
Exercising despite exhaustion or injury
Denying hunger
Avoiding eating with other people
Hiding weight loss under loose clothing

A person with anorexia nervosa may genuinely experience their body differently from how others perceive it. Telling the person that they are “already thin” is rarely enough to change the illness.

Anorexia nervosa can affect the heart, blood pressure, bones, hormones, muscles, kidneys, digestive system, concentration, and temperature regulation. It can be life-threatening and is associated with risk from both medical complications and suicide.

Restricting and Binge-Eating/Purging Presentations of Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa may appear with different behavioral patterns.

Restricting Pattern

The person primarily loses or maintains low weight through:

Food restriction
Fasting
Rigid food rules
Excessive exercise

Regular binge eating or purging is not the main pattern.

Binge-Eating/Purging Pattern

The person meets the central features of anorexia nervosa but also experiences recurrent:

Binge eating
Self-induced vomiting
Laxative misuse
Diuretic misuse
Other purging behavior

The presence of bingeing or purging does not automatically mean the diagnosis is bulimia nervosa. Body-weight status and the full symptom pattern are part of the clinical distinction.

Atypical Anorexia Nervosa

Atypical anorexia nervosa involves the central psychological and behavioral features of anorexia nervosa, but the person’s current weight is not below the expected diagnostic threshold.

The person may still experience:

Severe food restriction
Intense fear of weight gain
Significant or rapid weight loss
Compulsive exercise
Body-image disturbance
Nutritional deficiency
Dizziness, weakness, or fainting
Heart or electrolyte concerns

Atypical anorexia nervosa is generally classified under other specified feeding or eating disorder.

The word “atypical” does not mean that the condition is mild. A person may be medically unstable even when others consider their body size average or high. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes atypical anorexia nervosa as an example within OSFED when all anorexia features are present except significantly low body weight.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa involves recurrent binge-eating episodes followed by recurrent compensatory behaviors intended to prevent weight gain.

A binge-eating episode generally includes:

Eating an unusually large amount of food within a limited period
Feeling unable to stop or control the eating

Compensatory behaviors may include:

Self-induced vomiting
Laxative misuse
Diuretic misuse
Fasting
Excessive exercise
Other attempts to compensate for food intake

People with bulimia nervosa may live at low, average, or high body weights. The condition may remain hidden because bingeing and purging frequently occur in private.

Possible signs include:

Going to the bathroom immediately after meals
Running water to hide vomiting
Finding laxative or diuretic packaging
Swelling around the jaw
Dental damage
Calluses or injuries on the hands
Repeated dieting
Shame and secrecy around eating
Weight fluctuations

Bulimia differs from anorexia nervosa because persistent significantly low body weight is not required. It differs from binge-eating disorder because regular compensatory behavior follows the binge episodes.

Medical Risks of Bulimia Nervosa

Repeated vomiting, laxative misuse, fasting, or other compensatory behavior may contribute to:

Dehydration
Electrolyte disturbance
Irregular heart rhythm
Kidney problems
Throat irritation
Esophageal injury
Dental erosion
Digestive difficulties
Swollen salivary glands
Weakness or fainting

A person with bulimia may appear outwardly well while experiencing serious internal complications.

Vomiting blood, severe weakness, fainting, chest pain, confusion, seizure, or major breathing difficulty requires urgent or emergency medical assessment.

Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge-eating disorder involves recurrent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food while experiencing a sense of loss of control.

During an episode, the person may:

Eat rapidly
Eat until uncomfortably full
Eat despite not being physically hungry
Eat alone because of embarrassment
Feel unable to stop
Experience shame, guilt, sadness, or disgust afterward

Unlike bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder does not involve regular compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise after each binge.

Binge-eating disorder differs from occasional overeating because the episodes are recurrent, distressing, and associated with loss of control.

Binge-Eating Disorder Is Not Defined by Body Weight

People with binge-eating disorder may live in bodies of many sizes.

A person should not be diagnosed or dismissed solely on the basis of weight.

Assessment should focus on:

Frequency of binge episodes
Loss of control
Distress
Secrecy
Eating patterns
Emotional triggers
Medical health
Effects on relationships and daily functioning

Treatment should address the eating-disorder behavior and associated distress rather than treating the person as a weight-loss problem.

Bulimia Nervosa Versus Binge-Eating Disorder

The central difference is compensatory behavior.

Bulimia Nervosa

Recurrent binge eating
Loss of control
Regular compensatory behavior
Weight and shape often strongly affect self-evaluation

Binge-Eating Disorder

Recurrent binge eating
Loss of control
Significant distress
No regular compensatory behavior

A person who occasionally tries to compensate after bingeing still needs a full evaluation. Frequency, duration, medical effects, and the overall pattern determine the diagnosis.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, commonly called ARFID, involves limiting the amount or variety of food eaten in a way that leads to significant nutritional, physical, or psychosocial consequences.

ARFID is not primarily driven by a desire to lose weight or change body shape.

Food restriction may be connected to:

Sensitivity to texture, smell, taste, temperature, or appearance
Fear of choking
Fear of vomiting
Fear of an allergic reaction
A previous distressing eating event
Low appetite
Limited interest in food
Difficulty recognizing hunger

Possible consequences include:

Weight loss
Difficulty gaining expected weight
Nutritional deficiencies
Dependence on supplements
Dependence on tube feeding
Weakness or fatigue
Social isolation
Difficulty eating at work, school, restaurants, or family events

NIMH describes ARFID as limiting the amount or variety of food because of low interest, sensory characteristics, or fear of consequences such as choking or vomiting.

ARFID Versus Anorexia Nervosa

Both ARFID and anorexia nervosa may involve significant food restriction.

The main distinction is usually the motivation.

ARFID

Food restriction may result from:

Sensory sensitivity
Fear of choking or vomiting
Low interest in eating
Fear of another negative consequence

Body-image concerns are not the primary cause.

Anorexia Nervosa

Restriction is generally connected to:

Fear of weight gain
Behavior that prevents weight gain
Disturbance in body-weight or shape experience
Strong influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation

A person can have complicated or overlapping motivations, so professional assessment is important.

ARFID Versus Ordinary Picky Eating

Many people have strong food preferences.

ARFID becomes more concerning when restricted eating causes:

Nutritional deficiency
Weight or health problems
Dependence on supplements
Major interference with social life
Inability to meet nutritional needs
Significant distress
Reduced energy or functioning

An adult who eats a narrow range of foods but remains medically and socially well may not have ARFID.

An adult who cannot maintain adequate intake or avoids work, travel, relationships, or medical care because of food limitations may need evaluation.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder

Other specified feeding or eating disorder, or OSFED, is used when a person has clinically significant eating-disorder symptoms that cause distress, impairment, or medical risk but do not meet every criterion for another specific disorder.

Examples may include:

Atypical anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa of lower frequency or shorter duration
Binge-eating disorder of lower frequency or shorter duration
Purging disorder
Night-eating syndrome

OSFED is not a minor or less serious diagnosis.

Someone with OSFED may experience:

Significant restriction
Recurrent purging
Loss-of-control eating
Medical complications
Severe body-image distress
Social withdrawal
Reduced daily functioning

The diagnosis helps the provider describe the pattern accurately without ignoring clinically important symptoms.

Purging Disorder

Purging disorder generally involves recurrent behavior intended to influence weight or shape without the recurrent binge-eating episodes required for bulimia nervosa.

Behaviors may include:

Self-induced vomiting
Laxative misuse
Diuretic misuse
Other purging methods

For example, a person may eat an ordinary-sized meal and then vomit because of intense fear, guilt, or body-image distress.

Purging disorder may cause serious medical complications even when binge eating is absent.

Night-Eating Syndrome

Night-eating syndrome involves recurrent eating after waking from sleep or consuming a substantial amount of daily intake during the evening or nighttime.

The person is generally aware of and remembers the eating.

Possible features include:

Limited appetite in the morning
Strong urges to eat at night
Belief that eating is necessary to sleep
Sleep disruption
Distress or impairment

Night-eating syndrome should be distinguished from:

Binge-eating disorder
Sleep-related eating
Irregular eating caused by shift work
Medication effects
Another sleep or medical condition

Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder

Unspecified feeding or eating disorder may be used when eating-disorder symptoms cause significant distress or impairment but there is not enough information to identify a more specific diagnosis.

This may occur:

During an emergency evaluation
When the available history is incomplete
When the provider chooses not to specify why full criteria are not met
While additional assessment is pending

An unspecified diagnosis does not mean that the symptoms are imaginary or unimportant.

It may be updated as more information becomes available.

Pica

Pica involves repeatedly eating substances that are not food and do not provide nutritional value.

Examples may include:

Dirt
Clay
Paper
Chalk
Soap
Hair
Paint chips
Other nonfood materials

Diagnosis considers whether the behavior is:

Inappropriate for the person’s developmental level
Part of a culturally supported practice
Connected to pregnancy
Related to nutritional deficiency
Associated with an intellectual or developmental condition
Causing medical risk

Possible complications include:

Poisoning
Infection
Intestinal blockage
Dental damage
Exposure to parasites
Exposure to toxic substances

Pica differs from other eating disorders because the central behavior involves consuming nonfood substances rather than restricting, bingeing, or compensating for food intake.

Medical evaluation may be necessary.

Rumination Disorder

Rumination disorder involves repeatedly bringing recently eaten food back into the mouth.

The food may be:

Re-chewed
Re-swallowed
Spit out

The behavior is not fully explained by another gastrointestinal or medical condition.

Rumination disorder differs from:

Vomiting caused by illness
Acid reflux
Self-induced vomiting intended to prevent weight gain
Occasional regurgitation
Bulimia nervosa

Some people with rumination disorder may describe the behavior as automatic rather than intentional.

Evaluation may involve both medical and mental health professionals to rule out gastrointestinal causes and clarify the pattern.

Orthorexia

Orthorexia is a commonly used term for an intense or rigid preoccupation with eating foods considered healthy, clean, pure, or correct.

Possible signs include:

Eliminating increasing numbers of foods
Severe anxiety after eating a food considered unhealthy
Moral judgment of food choices
Avoiding social events
Nutritional deficiency
Spending large amounts of time planning or researching food
Feeling superior or ashamed based on eating behavior

Orthorexia is not currently a separate formal DSM diagnosis.

Depending on the presentation, clinically significant symptoms may be understood within:

OSFED
An anxiety-related condition
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
Another eating disorder

Interest in nutritious eating is not itself a disorder. Concern increases when the behavior becomes rigid, distressing, medically harmful, or disruptive.

Diabulimia

Diabulimia is an informal term used when a person with insulin-dependent diabetes deliberately restricts or omits insulin in an attempt to affect weight.

It is not a separate formal DSM diagnosis, but the behavior can be extremely dangerous.

Possible risks include:

Very high blood glucose
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Dehydration
Organ damage
Hospitalization
Death

Treatment requires coordinated diabetes, medical, nutritional, and mental health care.

Suspected diabetic ketoacidosis or serious insulin omission requires urgent medical attention.

Anorexia Nervosa Versus ARFID

These conditions may both cause serious food restriction, weight loss, or nutritional deficiency.

The primary difference is usually why the restriction occurs.

Anorexia Nervosa

Fear of weight gain
Body-image disturbance
Weight-control behavior
Low weight is typically part of the diagnosis

ARFID

Sensory discomfort
Fear of choking or vomiting
Limited interest in food
No primary weight- or shape-related motivation
Low weight may occur but is not required

The patient’s stated motivation should be explored carefully rather than assumed.

Anorexia Nervosa Versus Atypical Anorexia Nervosa

Both may involve:

Restriction
Fear of weight gain
Body-image disturbance
Significant weight loss
Medical complications

The principal diagnostic difference is that anorexia nervosa involves significantly low body weight, while atypical anorexia nervosa does not meet that low-weight criterion.

This distinction should never be used to dismiss atypical anorexia as less dangerous.

Bulimia Nervosa Versus Anorexia With Bingeing or Purging

Both may involve bingeing or purging.

The distinction depends partly on the presence of significantly low body weight and the broader anorexia symptom pattern.

A patient with low weight and anorexia features who also purges may receive an anorexia nervosa diagnosis rather than bulimia nervosa.

A full assessment is necessary because the behaviors alone do not establish the diagnosis.

Binge Eating Versus Emotional Eating

Emotional eating involves eating in response to emotions such as stress, loneliness, boredom, or sadness.

It does not automatically involve:

An unusually large amount of food
Loss of control
Recurrent episodes
Significant distress

Binge-eating disorder requires a more specific and recurrent clinical pattern.

However, distressing emotional eating may still deserve support, especially when it affects health, functioning, or the person’s relationship with food.

Eating Disorders Versus Disordered Eating

Disordered eating is a broad term covering problematic attitudes and behaviors involving food, weight, shape, or exercise.

Examples may include:

Chronic dieting
Frequent meal skipping
Guilt after eating
Rigid food rules
Repeated body checking
Occasional loss-of-control eating
Exercising to compensate for eating

A diagnosed eating disorder generally involves a more defined pattern of symptoms, impairment, distress, or medical risk.

Disordered eating can still be harmful and may progress. A person does not need to wait until every diagnostic criterion is met before seeking help.

Can Eating-Disorder Diagnoses Change?

Yes.

Eating-disorder symptoms may change over time.

A person may:

Move from restriction to binge eating
Develop purging behavior
Stop purging while binge eating continues
Restore weight while restrictive thoughts and behaviors remain
Develop symptoms that better fit another diagnosis
Move between a specific disorder and OSFED

A changing diagnosis does not mean that earlier symptoms were false.

It reflects the person’s current clinical presentation.

Regular assessment helps the care team understand:

Which behaviors are active
Whether medical risk has changed
Whether treatment should be modified
Whether another level of care is needed

Can Someone Have More Than One Mental Health Condition?

Eating disorders commonly occur alongside other psychiatric concerns, including:

Depression
Anxiety
Trauma-related symptoms
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
Substance-use disorders
ADHD
Self-harm
Suicidal thoughts
Mood instability

Co-occurring symptoms may influence:

Eating behavior
Medication decisions
Treatment engagement
Daily functioning
Medical risk
Level-of-care recommendations

NIMH notes that depression, anxiety, and substance-use disorders may occur alongside eating disorders.

Treatment should address the complete clinical picture rather than focusing only on food behavior.

Can Appearance Reveal the Type of Eating Disorder?

No.

Appearance cannot reliably tell you:

Whether someone binge eats
Whether someone purges
Whether food intake is adequate
Whether electrolytes are abnormal
Whether weight changed rapidly
Whether exercise is compulsive
Whether the person is medically stable
How much psychological distress is present

People with bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, ARFID, OSFED, and atypical anorexia may not fit common stereotypes.

Even people with anorexia nervosa may not look the way family members expect.

Diagnosis requires clinical assessment rather than visual judgment.

How Are Different Eating Disorders Evaluated?

An eating-disorder evaluation may examine:

Typical food intake
Food rules
Restriction
Binge-eating episodes
Loss of control
Vomiting
Laxative or diuretic use
Exercise
Body-image concerns
Fear of weight gain
Sensory food avoidance
Fear of choking or vomiting
Regurgitation
Consumption of nonfood substances
Weight and growth history
Physical symptoms
Medical conditions
Medication and supplements
Mood, anxiety, trauma, and substance use
Self-harm and suicide risk
Effects on work, school, relationships, and self-care

Medical assessment may include:

Vital signs
Physical examination
Laboratory tests
Electrocardiogram
Hydration assessment
Weight history
Other targeted testing

No single questionnaire, weight measurement, or laboratory result establishes the diagnosis.

Read How Eating Disorders Are Evaluated.

Do Different Eating Disorders Require Different Treatments?

Yes, although treatment approaches may overlap.

Treatment may involve:

Medical monitoring
Nutritional rehabilitation
Psychotherapy
Psychiatric care
Medication for selected symptoms or co-occurring conditions
Family or support-person involvement
Practical support
Substance-use treatment
A higher level of care

The treatment emphasis may differ.

Anorexia Nervosa

Care may prioritize:

Medical stabilization
Nutritional restoration
Reduction of restrictive behavior
Psychotherapy
Relapse prevention

Bulimia Nervosa

Care may focus on:

Interrupting the binge-purge cycle
Restoring regular eating
Monitoring electrolytes and physical complications
Psychotherapy
Medication when clinically appropriate

Binge-Eating Disorder

Care may address:

Recurrent binge episodes
Loss of control
Shame and secrecy
Regular eating patterns
Emotional and behavioral triggers
Co-occurring depression or anxiety

ARFID

Care may focus on:

Nutritional adequacy
Sensory sensitivity
Fear of choking or vomiting
Food variety
Medical contributors
Gradual exposure when appropriate

Pica and Rumination Disorder

Care may require:

Medical investigation
Behavioral treatment
Nutritional assessment
Treatment of contributing conditions

Eating disorders are treatable, but care should match the specific disorder, current medical status, and individual needs.

Read Eating Disorder Treatment Options.

When to Seek an Eating-Disorder Evaluation

Consider seeking professional help when someone:

Regularly restricts food
Has recurrent binge-eating episodes
Vomits after eating
Misuses laxatives or diuretics
Exercises compulsively
Has intense fear of weight gain
Avoids food because of sensory discomfort
Fears choking or vomiting
Eats nonfood substances
Repeatedly regurgitates food
Experiences significant distress around meals
Avoids social situations involving food
Has rapid or unexplained weight changes
Feels unable to control the behavior
Has physical symptoms related to eating
Experiences worsening depression or suicidal thoughts

The person does not need to know which eating disorder they may have before requesting an evaluation.

Read When to Seek Help for an Eating Disorder.

When Prompt Medical Assessment Is Needed

Seek prompt medical or clinical assessment for:

Repeated dizziness
Fainting
Rapid weight change
Persistent vomiting
Blood in vomit
Significant weakness
Dehydration
Heart palpitations
Confusion
Inability to eat or drink adequately
Repeated laxative or diuretic misuse
Severe abdominal symptoms
Worsening depression
Suicidal thoughts

The urgency of an eating disorder cannot be determined from body size alone.

When Emergency Help Is Needed

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room when someone:

Is unresponsive
Has severe confusion
Has fainted with concerning symptoms
Has a seizure
Has severe chest pain
Has major breathing difficulty
Is severely dehydrated
Is vomiting blood
Has taken an overdose
Has attempted suicide
Has a suicide plan and intends to act
Cannot eat or drink safely
Cannot remain safe
Is experiencing another immediate medical or psychiatric emergency

Do not wait for:

A routine psychiatric appointment
A nutrition appointment
A voicemail
An email
A website response
A patient-portal message

Tinka Health Services is not an emergency service.

Common Misconceptions About Eating-Disorder Types

“All Eating Disorders Involve Wanting to Be Thin”

ARFID, pica, and rumination disorder are not primarily defined by fear of weight gain or body-image concerns.

“Everyone Who Binges Has Binge-Eating Disorder”

Diagnosis depends on loss of control, recurrence, distress, frequency, and the broader pattern.

“Vomiting After Eating Always Means Bulimia”

Purging may occur in bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, purging disorder, or another condition.

“Anorexia Always Means Eating Nothing”

A person may continue eating while severely restricting quantity, variety, or energy intake.

“ARFID Is Just Picky Eating”

ARFID causes clinically significant nutritional, medical, or psychosocial consequences.

“OSFED Is Not a Serious Eating Disorder”

OSFED may cause severe distress, impairment, and medical complications.

“A Person Must Be Underweight to Have Anorexia Symptoms”

Atypical anorexia nervosa can involve severe restriction and medical risk without a low current body weight.

“Pica and Rumination Disorder Are Habits”

They are recognized feeding and eating disorders that may require medical and behavioral treatment.

“Body Weight Reveals the Diagnosis”

Eating-disorder type cannot be determined from appearance alone.

How Tinka Health Services Can Help

Tinka Health Services provides psychiatric evaluation, medication management when clinically appropriate, therapy-informed support, individualized care planning, and telehealth mental health services for eligible patients in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia.

During an assessment involving possible eating-disorder symptoms, Seliat Dosunmu, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, may review:

Restrictive eating
Binge-eating episodes
Loss of control
Purging behavior
Compulsive exercise
Food avoidance
Fear of choking or vomiting
Body-image concerns
Mood
Anxiety
Obsessive or intrusive thoughts
Trauma-related symptoms
Sleep
Substance use
Medication and supplements
Previous treatment
Daily functioning
Self-harm and suicide risk

Depending on the evaluation, recommendations may include:

Further diagnostic assessment
Psychiatric follow-up
Assessment of co-occurring mental health conditions
Medication management when clinically appropriate
Therapy-informed support
Referral for specialized eating-disorder psychotherapy
Referral to a registered dietitian with relevant experience
Primary-care or specialist evaluation
Laboratory testing
Vital-sign or cardiac monitoring
Coordination with other members of the care team
Substance-use treatment
Safety planning
Referral to a higher level of care when necessary

An appointment does not guarantee:

A particular eating-disorder diagnosis
A medication prescription
A controlled medication
A refill
A dose change
Laboratory testing
Nutritional treatment
A particular referral
A specific treatment outcome

Recommendations depend on the patient’s symptoms, eating patterns, medical health, nutritional risks, current medication, previous treatment, substance use, functioning, preferences, and safety needs.

Telehealth appointments may be available for eligible patients physically located in Maryland, Washington, DC, or Virginia when virtual psychiatric care is clinically appropriate.

Some patients may require multidisciplinary or in-person services that Tinka Health Services does not provide directly, including:

Physical examination
Vital-sign monitoring
Laboratory testing
Electrocardiogram
Nutritional rehabilitation
Specialized eating-disorder psychotherapy
Medical stabilization
Intensive outpatient treatment
Partial hospitalization
Residential treatment
Inpatient medical or psychiatric treatment

For non-emergency psychiatric evaluation and mental health support, schedule an appointment with Seliat Dosunmu, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C.

Related Eating Disorder Resources

Eating Disorders Care
What Are Eating Disorders?
When to Seek Help for an Eating Disorder
Common Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
How Eating Disorders Affect Daily Life
Eating Disorder Warning Signs
How Eating Disorders Are Evaluated
Preparing for an Eating Disorder Evaluation
Questions to Ask About Eating Disorder Care
Eating Disorder Treatment Options
Therapy and Nutritional Support for Eating Disorders
Creating an Eating Disorder Care Plan
Medication Management for Eating Disorders
What to Expect During Eating Disorder Medication Follow-Up
Eating Disorder Medication Safety and Monitoring
Telehealth Care for Eating Disorders in Maryland, DC, and Virginia
Insurance and Cost Questions for Eating Disorder Care
Preparing for Your First Eating Disorder Appointment

Key Takeaway

The main types of eating disorders differ according to their central eating behavior and the reason the behavior occurs.

Anorexia nervosa involves significant restriction, low body weight, fear of weight gain, and body-image disturbance.
Bulimia nervosa involves recurrent binge eating followed by compensatory behavior.
Binge-eating disorder involves recurrent loss-of-control binge eating without regular compensatory behavior.
ARFID involves limited intake related to sensory sensitivity, fear of consequences, or low interest in food rather than body-image concerns.
OSFED includes serious eating-disorder patterns that do not meet every criterion for another diagnosis.
Pica involves eating nonfood substances.
Rumination disorder involves repeatedly bringing food back up after eating.

Eating-disorder diagnoses may overlap or change over time. Appearance and body weight alone cannot identify the type or seriousness of a condition.

A complete evaluation may examine eating behavior, motivation, body image, medical health, nutritional status, mental health symptoms, daily functioning, and safety.

At Tinka Health Services, eligible patients physically located in Maryland, Washington, DC, or Virginia may receive psychiatric assessment, medication management when clinically appropriate, therapy-informed support, care planning, coordination, and telehealth mental health care.

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