While ARFID is similar to Anorexia-Nervosa in that it involves heavy food restriction, those with ARFID do not intend to lose weight, nor are they anxious about their body size or shape. Therefore, the dramatic weight loss exhibited by the disorder is unintentional. Some other consequences of the disorder are:
* Malnutrition
* Loss of appetite
* Stomach cramping
* Lanugo
* Heart failure as a result of malnutrition
* Loss of menstrual cycle
* Abnormal lab results

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: Consequences

The consequences of Pica vary greatly as the non-food items ingested by those afflicted with Pica vary in their ingestability and toxicity. Depedning on what is eaten (ex: ice), Pica may even be harmless. However, some common and severe consequences are listed below:

* Damage to teeth by ingested matter
* Blockage of the digestive tract by ingested matter
* Contraction of illness/disease from ingested matter
* Death from toxic ingested matter

Pica: Consequences

Because Rumination Disorder is involuntary, it is difficult to prevent its consequences without receiving medical treatment. Some physical consequences of the disorder are:

* Malnutrition
* Unintended and/or unhealthy weight loss
* Bad breath
* Damage to teeth by regurgitated stomach acid 

Rumination Disorder: Consequences

Because binge eating disorder involves overconsumption of food, the consequences of binge eating disorder differ from other eating disorders, whose consequences occur due to lack of/restriction of food. Some possible consequences of binge eating disorder are:
* Obesity
* Type 2 Diabetes
* Heart disease
* Joint problems
* Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Binge Eating Disorder: Consequences

Physical consequences of ARFID vary due to an individual's age. Common symptoms are:

-  Gastroenterological distress
- Inadequate or slowed growth
- Low weight
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal pain when eating
- Nutrient deficiencies

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Consequences

Bulimia nervosa is associated with numerous severe health complications resulting from the cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviors. These adverse physical effects include kidney failure, heart failure, and significant tooth decay. Additionally, individuals with this disorder frequently suffer from mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, and face an elevated risk for substance abuse.

Health Consequences of Bulimia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa leads to numerous severe health problems, making it one of the most lethal mental disorders. Significant negative outcomes include bone loss, heart failure, kidney failure, amenorrhea (the cessation of menstruation), and reduced function of the gonads. In extreme cases, these complications can result in death.

Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa

Analyze the following clinical case. Based on the patient's symptoms, explain the likely underlying behaviors and the physiological mechanisms connecting those behaviors to each of the observed health issues.

Clinical Symptom Analysis

Eating disorders, particularly conditions like bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa, are associated with a wide range of severe and adverse health consequences.

Grinnell College

Google

In contrast to the widespread issue of being overweight, a significant minority of the population suffers from eating disorders, which commonly lead to being underweight. These conditions, such as bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa, are often characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and can result in numerous negative health effects.

Eating Disorders 

The DSM-5-TR separates Feeding and Eating disorders into the following specific disorders:
-	Pica
-	Rumination Disorder
-	Avoidant / Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
-	Anorexia Nervosa
-	Bulimia Nervosa
-	Binge-Eating Disorder
-	Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder
-	Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder


[DSM-5-TR] List of Feeding and Eating Disorders

Bulimia nervosa. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2023, January 31). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa 

Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Pica. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22944-pica 

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2018, May 5). Binge-eating disorder. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/binge-eating-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353627 

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2020a, October 14). Rumination syndrome. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rumination-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20377330 

Meczekalski, B., Podfigurna-Stopa, A., & Katulski, K. (2013). Long-term consequences of anorexia nervosa. Maturitas, 75(3), 215–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.04.014

References for Eating Disorders: Consequences

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by compensatory actions. Individuals consume abnormally large amounts of food and then attempt to offset this intake through behaviors such as purging or excessive exercising.

Bulimia Nervosa

Binge eating disorder (BED), officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in the DSM-5 since 2013, is characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food. Unlike bulimia nervosa, these binges are not followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging. A key diagnostic feature is the significant psychological distress, including feelings of guilt and embarrassment, that occurs after a binge, which distinguishes the disorder from simple overeating.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

References for Bulimia Nervosa 

Pica is an eating disorder in which an individual compulsively consumes inedible items. The inedible items consumed vary by those with the disorder.

Pica

Rumination disorder is an eating disorder where an individual unconsciously regurgitates food immediately after eating. This eating disorder is rare and is most common in children.

Rumination Disorder

A disorder commonly found in children, ARFID can be described as extremely picky eating, though fear foods differ significantly from those with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Although ARFID involves food restriction and thus shares some features with anorexia nervosa, the fear and restriction surrounding food is not due to concerns about weight or body image. 

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED) is a category of eating disorders in which individuals do not meet full criteria for other eating disorders. Around 30% of individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder fall into this classification.

Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder

Adverse Health Consequences of Eating Disorders

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder defined by maintaining a body weight significantly below average, which is achieved through methods like starvation or excessive exercise. A central characteristic of this disorder is a distorted body image, a form of body dysmorphia, where individuals perceive themselves as overweight despite being underweight.

Anorexia Nervosa

A person begins a new diet and exercise regimen with the goal of losing 10 pounds. They start counting calories and increase their physical activity. Which of the following additional observations would be the strongest indicator that this behavior is evolving into a clinical eating disorder?

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