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Table 1 Classification, causes, sign and symptoms, treatment of eating disorders

From: A review on association and correlation of genetic variants with eating disorders and obesity

Classification

Causes

Sign and symptoms

Treatment

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is linked to biological, cultural and social factors, family, parenting style, environmental influences, parental discord, and household stress.

marked weight loss, vomiting, chronicity, cardiac muscle wasting, psychiatric comorbidity, hypoglycemia, psychosocial problem, passive-aggressive and obsessive-compulsive disorder, heart failure, depression, hypoproteinuria, extended corrected QT interval, mineral and vitamin inadequacy, electrolyte disorder are common [23].

• Medication: (SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antidepressants) [24], TCA or tricyclic antidepressant drugs [25, 26], antipsychotics [27], hormones [28], antiepileptics [29], nutritional supplement [30], weight restoration, and nutritional intervention.

• Psychosocial interventions (CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy [31], CAT or cognitive analytic therapy [32])

• Family therapy [33]

• Psychosocial interventions [34]

Bulimia nervosa

Mood disorder, physical and sexual abuse, obesity, parental obesity, low self-esteem, substance abuse, disturbed family dynamics, perfectionism, early menstruation in eating disorder patients, and parental shape/weight concern [35].

Bulimia nervosa has been observed to manifest binge eating symptoms, depression and anxiety, compensatory behavior, higher rates of obesity, sexual and physical abuse, mood disorder, perfectionism, low self-esteem, early menarche, disturbed family dynamics, and parental weight/shape concern [36].

• Medications: (SSRI, antidepressants, trazodone, 5-HT3 antagonist, MAO inhibitors) [35].

• Psychosocial interventions [37] (dialectic behavior therapy , CBT).

• Self-help trials, family therapy, 12-step programs/support group [38].

• Psychosocial interventions plus medication [38, 39] (CBT and tricyclic antidepressant, CBT and SSRI, CBT and multiple drugs).

• Additional interventions (light therapy, guided imagery therapy, crisis prevention [37]).

Binge eating disorder

Though the exact reason of binge eating disorder has not been known up to date, several factors are assumed to play pivotal role in developing this disorder. Factors include the following [40]:

• Biological: Biological abnormalities; for instance, genetic mutations or hormonal irregularities, may be implicated with addiction for food and impulsive eating.

• Psychological: A profound relationship has been revealed between binge eating and depression. Low self-esteem, discontentment about body, and troubles in coping with emotions may also impart to the formation of binge-eating disorder.

• Social and Cultural: Situations leading to trauma, e.g. a past event of sexual abuse, may enhance the risk of BN (binge eating). Social stresses to be slim, most commonly influenced by media can instigate emotional eating. People subjected to mean and hurtful remarks about their weight or body are especially susceptible to binge-eating disorder.

Binge eating is referred as the major symptom of BED; but, every individual who binge eats does not possess BED. A person can binge eat without acknowledging number of negative psychological, social or physical consequences of BED. The aforementioned example can, at the most, be regarded as eating problem except for a disorder. It is somewhat problematic to provide a precise definition of binge eating, however episodes of binge eating in BED usually have the following features [41, 42]:

• Eating much quickly than the usual, may be within short time space.

• Eating up to the time of perceiving uncomfortably full.

• Eating a huge volume even when do not have appetite for food.

• Losing control over what or how much is eaten

• Binges could be premeditated associating with buying certain binge foods, allocation of particular time for binging, occasionally at night.

• Eating confidentially or alone due to the feeling of discomfort over the volume of food taken.

• There could be bewildered psychological state at the time of binge.

• Being unable to recall what was consumed following the binge

• Sense of guilt, disgust or shame after a food binge.

• Medications [43] (SSRI, anti-obesity, anticonvulsants)

• Multidisciplinary sequential strategy [43] (Psychoeducational and behavioral interventions)

• Psychotherapies [40] (DBT or dialectic-behavioral therapy, CBT)

• Personal motivation and counseling

• Bariatric surgery.

• Administration of numerous SSRIs, e.g., sertraline, citalopram, fluvoxamine and fluoxetine, etc. [44].

• Other treatments available for BED are lifestyle interventions such as peer support groups, hormonal abnormalities investigation and weight training. Concentrating on optimistic mindset and self-love is effective for many [45].