What are
Eating Disorders?

Does this make me look fat? Do I need to go on a diet? Maybe I'll just skip lunch... Boy, I REALLY need to run after eating that!

Eating disorders are expressions of weight and food issues experienced by both females and males, although the radio is 9:1. In the United States at least 5-10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men struggle with eating disorders every year.
There are many causes of an eating disorder, including genetic predisposition, cultural influence, as well as psychological and interpersonal conditions.

ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized primarily by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. In adolescents, however, lack of normal weight gain can be just as significant as weight loss.

BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, use of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics, excessive exercise, and/or fasting).

Both of these disorders include, but are not limited to, a preoccupation with food, weight, calories and body image, an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, as well as withdrawal from family and friends.

BINGE EATING DISORDER is characterized by episodes of binge eating without any compensatory behavior, such as purging. A person struggling with BED feels out of control with these episodes, and their weight can vary from normal to mild, moderate or severe obesity.