EMOTIONAL REGULATION DEFICITS IN ATYPICAL EATING DISORDERS

Abstract

Emotional regulation plays a central role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. While traditional research has largely focused on anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, increasing attention is being directed toward atypical eating disorders, which present clinically significant symptoms without meeting full diagnostic criteria. This review paper examines emotional regulation deficits in atypical eating disorders, highlighting how difficulties in identifying, expressing, and managing emotions contribute to disordered eating behaviours. The paper synthesizes existing literature on emotional dysregulation, explores its manifestations in atypical presentations, and discusses clinical implications for assessment and intervention.