Eating Disorders Resource Center

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that involve persistent eating issues and distressing thoughts and feelings around food, weight, and appearance. Eating disorders can involve a wide range of symptoms, such as food restriction, binge eating, or purging in ways like vomiting after eating or misusing laxatives, which can lead to serious health complications. Treatment typically involves a combination of talk therapy, nutritional counseling, and medical monitoring. Support groups can also play a key role in recovery.

FAQ

What are the different types of eating disorders?

Types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, specified feeding and eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, pica, and rumination disorder, among others.

Many with eating disorders may not think they need help or realize how severe their symptoms are. If you’re worried that a loved one may have an eating disorder, calmly talk to them about your concerns and offer support.

Signs and symptoms of an eating disorder are wide-ranging and can include food restriction, binge eating, purging in ways like vomiting after eating or misusing laxatives, skipping meals, or leaving during or after meals to use the bathroom, among others.

Recovery from eating disorders is possible with consistent treatment and support. Effective treatment options include talk therapy, nutrition counseling, and medical monitoring.

Eating disorders can lead to serious health complications, such as malnutrition, heart problems, dehydration, digestive problems, tooth decay, depression, anxiety, menstrual problems, growth issues, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, or death, among others.

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Resources
  1. What are Eating Disorders? American Psychiatric Association. February 2023.
  2. Eating Disorders:Treatment. National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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