Compare and contrast the diagnoses, characteristics, and treatments of at least 1 eating disorder.

The severe eating disorder Anorexia Nevra is characterised by a fear of self-starvation and an excessive fear to gain weight. The individuals have an incorrect perception of themselves, often feeling overweight even though they are actually underweight. These symptoms may include extreme dieting or exercise, an excessive intake of laxatives and diuretics, binge eating, followed by purging. Psychotherapy is usually used to assist the patient in changing their unhealthy thoughts and behavior around food. Nutritional counseling can also be provided to aid them to gain a healthy body weight.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is another type of eating disorder characterized by frequent episodes of consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time with a sense that one’s control over eating has been lost during the episode. These episodes do not lead to compensatory behaviors like excessive exercise or purging, unlike bulimia. BED symptoms can include guilt and shame following a binge-eating episode, as well as changes in mood like depression or anxiety. BED is treated with cognitive behavioral therapy that targets unhealthy eating habits, nutrition education to encourage balanced meals and stress reduction.