It is necessary to understand the different notions of eating disorders in order to diagnose them correctly:
The compulsive person
This type of person consumes very large quantities (food intake greater than 3000 Kcal), in a very short period of time (in less than twenty minutes), over a certain period (at least twice a week for at least six months). It is also possible to encounter compulsive people who feel the need to snack all day long.
The bulimic person
The person affected by bulimia is subject to compulsions followed by vomiting or compensatory behaviors: excessive practice of a sport, taking laxatives… ; this, so that their food intakes are cancelled out.
Their major concern is their obsession with the weight on the scale.
Bulimic people are aware of their problem but cannot get rid of their bad habits, because they vomit without wanting to.
The anorexic person
This is a person obsessed with their weight; their major concern is to control their food intake, by choosing low-energy foods.
The person in question consumes the strict minimum, constantly fights against hunger.
The harmful consequences, more or less intended, are mainly significant weight loss, asthenia, hair loss, deficiencies and serious metabolic disorders.
Rare are the anorexics who come to consult in order to gain weight, and if that is the case, they wish to gain weight but do not want it to show…
The role of the dietitian
Faced with all these eating disorders, the role of the dietitian is to listen to these types of people in order to help them.
The dietitian can also refer people with eating disorders in parallel to a psychologist, in addition to the dietary consultations.
Orly FREOUA-AZRIA — Micronutrition dietitian
