Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are a group of conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits. These may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual’s physical and emotional health.

The most commonly witnessed examples of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa – where people eat very little and thus have a low body weight, binge eating disorder – where people eat a large amount in a short period of time,  bulimia nervosa – where people eat a lot and then try to rid themselves of the food, pica – where people eat non-food items,  rumination disorder – where people regurgitate food, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder – where people have a lack of interest in food, and a group of other specified feeding or eating disorders. Anxiety, depression, and substance abuse are common among people with eating disorders.

Eating disorders do not include obesity

They precipitate due to extreme emotions, attitudes and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues and can have life-threatening consequences.