In the United States alone, over 20 million people will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime.¹ Sometimes, identifying the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder can be difficult, and by the time they’re recognized, it may be too late.
However, there’s a connection between personality and eating disorders. Knowing what to look for may clue you in on whether you or your loved one may be suffering from an eating disorder–and help you connect with the right resources.
Here, we’ll cover the most common personality traits of individuals with eating disorders. We’ll also go over other information about eating disorders, including:
- Different types of eating disorders
- Causes and risk factors
- Associated personality disorders
- Signs and symptoms
- Treatment
Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, and each person has their own unique experience. No matter what stage of life you’re in, Iremia Psychiatric Care is here to help. Let’s dive in.
The Different Types of Eating Disorders
While there are many types of eating disorders, the three most common are anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa.
Anorexia Nervosa
Individuals with anorexia nervosa restrict what they eat to the point of having unnaturally low weight. They usually have an intense fear of putting on too many pounds, and will even behave in ways to avoid gaining weight and eating.
Some examples include over-exercising, or even “purging” any food they eat by making themselves vomit or using laxatives.
Individuals with anorexia also have a distorted self-image of their body and feel their weight or shape may never be “enough.” They also don’t recognize how dangerous their low body weight is.²
Binge Eating Disorder
Individuals with binge eating disorder usually eat way more food than normal in a short period of time and feel “out of control” when doing it.
Sometimes, people who are binge eating will eat at one place then go to other places to continue eating more food. But take note–snacking throughout the day is not considered binge eating!
Binge eating can happen in people who are normal-weight, overweight, and obese.²
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa has a similar pattern of eating to binge eating disorder. Both eating disorders have binge eating episodes, and people with bulimia nervosa also feel like they don’t have control over their eating during these times.
The main difference is that in bulimia nervosa, people are also afraid of gaining weight, so they will purge, fast, or over-exercise following these episodes. Purging behaviors include:
- Making yourself vomit
- Taking too many laxatives
- Taking water pills or other types of medications
Like anorexia nervosa, people with binge eating also have distorted body images. However, people with bulimia usually have normal weight or are overweight.²
What Causes An Eating Disorder?
Instead of one cause for an eating disorder, there are many things that lead to developing an eating disorder. Some of these are:
- Stressful or traumatic life events are the most common triggers. This can include being bullied or abused, or even moving away to a new environment.
- Having mental health issues also increases the chances of having an eating disorder.³
- People with certain personality characteristics are also prone to developing an eating disorder. Examples include being obsessive or having a negative affect (which means you’re prone to negativity).
Eating disorders can technically start at any point in life but are the most common in teens and young adults.²
Other Risk Factors for Eating Disorders
There are other things that can lead to disordered eating. These include:²
- Genetics: Some families have a history of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa.
- Low self-esteem: Having low self-esteem can be a risk for disordered eating as a person strives to fit the “norm.”
- Cultural and societal influences: Equating “beauty” with “thinness” can influence the development of anorexia or bulimia. People who are in certain sports may try to achieve an “ideal physique.”
Again, many factors influence the development of an eating disorder–and each person’s experience is unique.
Five Common Personality Traits of People With Eating Disorders
There are common personality traits of people with eating disorders, and some you can start to see in childhood. The five most common traits include perfectionism, rigidity, impulsivity, risk-taking, and negative affectivity (or neuroticism).
1. Perfectionism
People with perfectionism tend to strive for “above and beyond” in everything they do, particularly with work or school. They tend to be overly critical of themselves and sometimes other people.⁴
They often strive for complete control and feel anxious when things don’t meet their standards.
2. Rigidity
Being rigid often goes together with being a perfectionist. Rigid personalities tend to resist changes in behavior and opinions.⁵ It can be hard for them to adapt to new situations.
3. Impulsivity
Impulsive people tend to “act first, ask questions later.” They may be susceptible to boredom and thrill seeking.⁶
4. Risk-taking
This can go together with impulsivity, but people who take risks are usually sensation-seeking. While this can come across as being open to new experiences, this can also be a problem when a person’s health is negatively affected.
5. Negative affectivity
People with negative affectivity tend to experience more negative emotions and tend to always seem more “gloomy.”⁷ They tend to be anxious and worry a lot.
Why Personality Traits Are Important in Eating Disorders
Knowing the personality traits commonly associated with eating disorders helps you recognize whether you or someone you care about are at risk for having an eating disorder.
Also, by identifying someone’s personality traits, mental health providers are able to provide personalized therapy to help people overcome their mental illness.
Personality Disorders and Eating Disorders: Is There a Connection?
Our Personalities Shape How We Interact with the World
The short answer is yes! Past studies show that personality disorders increase the risk of having an eating disorder.⁸
Personality disorders tend to develop during late teenage and early adult years. While everyone has traits and behaviors that make up their personality, the traits and behaviors of people with personality disorders interfere with their day-to-day functioning and relationships with other people.⁹
The two personality disorders most commonly associated with an eating disorder are obsessive compulsive personality disorder and borderline personality disorder.
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
People with obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) tend to intensely focus on details, order, organization, rules, lists, and other similar things. They also tend to be perfectionists, to the point where they don’t finish tasks on time. They’re also very rigid or stubborn.
Having OCPD increases the risk of having anorexia nervosa. The obsessive, controlling, perfectionist traits can carry over into the restrictive eating behaviors seen in anorexia.⁸
Borderline Personality Disorder
Those with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are impulsive, and may have self-harming tendencies. They also have emotional volatility, fear of abandonment, and unstable relationships.
BPD increases the risk of having either anorexia nervosa (binge eating purging type) or bulimia nervosa. The impulsive traits associated with BPD contribute to the impulsive eating behavior of bulimia.⁸
If you’re worried that you or someone you care about may have a personality disorder, it’s important to seek help right away. Aside from eating disorders, personality disorders can be associated with other mental health conditions, too.
Signs You May Be Developing An Eating Disorder
Being diagnosed with an eating disorder requires the help of a mental health professional.
However, if you’re worried about yourself or someone you love developing an eating disorder, here are some signs and symptoms to look out for:¹⁰–¹¹
- Vomiting or taking a laxative after meals
- Overthinking weight or body shape
- Avoiding social situations where food may be involved
- Over-exercising and/or having extreme weight loss
- Thinning hair
- Feeling cold, fatigued, or lightheaded
- Experiencing dizziness, numbness or tingling
- Skipping periods
This list doesn’t include all of the symptoms, and everyone has their own experiences. If you or someone you care about has any of the above signs or symptoms, it’s important to get them help. Catching and treating an eating disorder early is better than catching it too late.
How Are Eating Disorders Treated?
Treating eating disorders is similar for adults and teenagers/children. It includes therapy, sometimes medication, and in specific cases–a dedicated day-treatment or an inpatient program.
Eating disorders, however, can also be deadly, so sometimes people require hospital admission right away in order to save their lives.
Therapy For Eating Disorders
The first step in treatment is based on therapy. Specifically, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is personalized for each patient. This type of therapy can last for several months, but sometimes CBT can last longer.
For children and teenagers, there is sometimes additional therapy called family-based therapy. This aims to include caregivers to help optimize support at home.¹¹
The ultimate goal for therapy is to help get the person back on track to their healthy weight and normal, healthier eating habits.
Medications for Eating Disorders
Sometimes psychiatric medications are used for certain eating disorders. They also help treat related conditions like anxiety or depression.
For example, a medication called fluoxetine is used for bulimia nervosa. Another medication, called lisdexamfetamine, is used for binge eating disorder.¹²
It’s important to connect with the right mental health provider to see if and what medication is right for you.
Specific Programs for Eating Disorders
Sometimes, going to appointments at a clinic or taking medications isn’t enough to help treat an eating disorder. In these cases, people with an eating disorder may be admitted to specific day treatment or residential programs to help treat their condition.¹¹
There are programs for children, teens, and adults. How long these programs last varies, and it’s important to talk to your mental health provider about whether these programs are right for you or your loved one.
When Eating Disorders Are Dangerous
In certain situations, eating disorders can be dangerous and even deadly. They can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. These can cause even more serious issues, including:
- Seizures
- Arrhythmias
- Heart failure
- Pancreatitis
These are all health conditions that require hospitalization in order to treat and manage them safely.¹¹ It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder in order to avoid these serious complications.
Are You Feeling Out of Control With Food? Get Help Today
There are many types of eating disorders, each driven by our personality tendencies. If you’re feeling out of control with your relationship to food, or if someone you love is starting to show signs of an eating disorder, it’s important to get help.
At Iremia Psychiatric Care, Grecia recognizes that each person’s journey with weight and self-image is unique and works with each person to develop a personalized treatment plan. The journey to healing and self-love requires time and effort, and Grecia will be with you every step of the way.
Let’s take the first step together and get your health back on track. Schedule your appointment with us today.
FAQ: Personality Traits and Eating Disorders
What are the personality traits of someone with an eating disorder?
Each person is unique, but the most common personality traits associated with eating disorders are perfectionism, impulsivity, risk-taking, rigidity, and negative affect.
A person’s personality traits can carry over in how they view food. For example, perfectionists may obsess over controlling how much food and what food they eat. Impulsive people may intentionally binge eat, which may be followed by purging.
References:
- Social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States: Evidence to inform policy action – (nih.gov)
- American Psychiatric Association. Feeding and Eating Disorders. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). 5th Edition. – (mredcircleoftrust.com)
- Eating Disorders – (mayoclinic.org)
- The big five personality traits, perfectionism and their association with mental health among UK students on professional degree programmes. – (biomedcentral.com)
- APA Dictionary of Psychology. – (apa.org)
- Trait impulsivity influences behavioural and physiological responses to threat in a virtual environment. – (nature.com)
- Negative Affectivity. – (springer.com)
- Personality pathology and its influence on eating disorders. (nih.gov)
- What are personality disorders? – (psychiatry.org)
- Eating Disorders – (nhs.uk)
- Identification and Management of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents – (nih.gov)
- Treatment of Eating Disorders in Adults Versus Adolescents: Similarities and Differences – (nih.gov)