How Much Do You Know About Eating Disorders?

An eating disorder is a serious medical illness. It's not about lacking the will to eat right.

These disorders are marked by extremes in eating. A person with an eating disorder may greatly cut back on the amount of food they eat. Or they may eat large amounts of food and then force themselves to vomit, over-exercise, or take laxatives to get rid of the extra food. Or the person may greatly overeat and not purge the food.

Girls are much more likely than boys to get anorexia. In fact, anorexia nervosa occurs 3 times more often in females than in males. Binge-eating disorder affects twice as many females as it does males.

Teens and young adults are more likely to develop an eating disorder than children or older adults.

People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin. They often develop peculiar eating habits. They may pick out just a few foods to eat. Or they may eat foods in small quantities or carefully weigh foods. They may use diet pills and laxatives to lose weight. They check their weight over and over again. They often exercise more than normal to control their weight. This illness can become life-threatening if not treated. The person needs a full physical and emotional exam and treatment. The person's family must be supportive and take part in the therapy. This can be central to recovery.

People with bulimia usually are of normal weight. Like those with anorexia, people with bulimia are afraid of gaining weight. They feel very unhappy with their body. They may use diet pills and laxatives to lose weight. But they don't lose a great deal of weight because they overeat (binge) and then purge. An example of purging may be vomiting food on purpose to get rid of it.

Binge-eating means eating a large amount of food within a certain period of time. Many binge-eaters eat alone because they are embarrassed at how much food they are eating. They eat even when they are not hungry. They often eat until uncomfortably full. Binge-eaters do not purge after overeating. They tend to be overweight.

Because of this, they may not get treatment. Family members or close friends who see the problem can encourage the person to get help. They can offer support during treatment. Treatment for anorexia includes restoring the lost weight and easing the psychological distress that often caused the weight loss. This distress includes low self-esteem, poor body image, and problems interacting with others. Treatment for bulimia and binge-eating disorder includes eating regular meals and getting nutrition advice. Healthcare providers can also treat any underlying mood or anxiety disorders. The person may also need to take medicines.