Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect a person's emotional and physical health. They're not about food alone—they involve complex relationships with food, body image, and self-worth. Recovery is possible with proper treatment.
Eating disorders involve persistent disturbances in eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. The most common types include anorexia nervosa (restriction and fear of weight gain), bulimia nervosa (binge eating followed by purging), and binge eating disorder (recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food).
Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. About 28.8 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. While often developing during adolescence, they can occur at any age.
Recognizing symptoms is the first step toward getting help. Not everyone experiences all symptoms.
Eating disorders don't have a single cause. They develop from a complex interaction of factors:
Effective treatments are available. Many people benefit from a combination of approaches.
Most effective for adolescents with anorexia. Parents are actively involved in helping restore healthy eating while the therapist supports the family through the process.
Helps identify and change unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors related to food, eating, and body image. Highly effective for bulimia and binge eating disorder.
Teaches skills for managing emotions, tolerating distress, and improving relationships—particularly helpful for emotion regulation difficulties.
Regular check-ups to monitor weight, vital signs, and complications. Severe cases may require hospitalization or residential treatment.
Working with a registered dietitian to develop healthy eating patterns and restore a healthy relationship with food.
While no medications treat eating disorders directly, antidepressants may help with co-occurring depression or anxiety.
These strategies can help you manage symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Recovery involves learning to eat without anxiety and guilt:
Shifting how you view and relate to your body takes time:
Certain situations may trigger disordered eating thoughts. Having a plan helps:
Supporting someone with an eating disorder requires patience, compassion, and education. Your support can make a significant difference in their recovery.
"I'm worried about you and want to help. Can we talk?"
"I've noticed some changes that concern me. How are you doing?"
"I care about you and I'm here to support you."
"Would you be open to talking to someone who specializes in this?"
Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime
deaths each year are the direct result of eating disorders
of people with eating disorders attempt suicide
of people with eating disorders are medically diagnosed as underweight
Recovery is possible with the right support and treatment. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional or call 988 for immediate support.
This information is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect a person's emotional and physical health. They're not about food alone—they involve complex relationships with food, body image, and self-worth. Recovery is possible with proper treatment.
Eating disorders involve persistent disturbances in eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. The most common types include anorexia nervosa (restriction and fear of weight gain), bulimia nervosa (binge eating followed by purging), and binge eating disorder (recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food).
Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. About 28.8 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. While often developing during adolescence, they can occur at any age.
Recognizing symptoms is the first step toward getting help. Not everyone experiences all symptoms.
Eating disorders don't have a single cause. They develop from a complex interaction of factors:
Effective treatments are available. Many people benefit from a combination of approaches.
Most effective for adolescents with anorexia. Parents are actively involved in helping restore healthy eating while the therapist supports the family through the process.
Helps identify and change unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors related to food, eating, and body image. Highly effective for bulimia and binge eating disorder.
Teaches skills for managing emotions, tolerating distress, and improving relationships—particularly helpful for emotion regulation difficulties.
Regular check-ups to monitor weight, vital signs, and complications. Severe cases may require hospitalization or residential treatment.
Working with a registered dietitian to develop healthy eating patterns and restore a healthy relationship with food.
While no medications treat eating disorders directly, antidepressants may help with co-occurring depression or anxiety.
These strategies can help you manage symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Recovery involves learning to eat without anxiety and guilt:
Shifting how you view and relate to your body takes time:
Certain situations may trigger disordered eating thoughts. Having a plan helps:
Supporting someone with an eating disorder requires patience, compassion, and education. Your support can make a significant difference in their recovery.
"I'm worried about you and want to help. Can we talk?"
"I've noticed some changes that concern me. How are you doing?"
"I care about you and I'm here to support you."
"Would you be open to talking to someone who specializes in this?"
Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime
deaths each year are the direct result of eating disorders
of people with eating disorders attempt suicide
of people with eating disorders are medically diagnosed as underweight
Recovery is possible with the right support and treatment. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional or call 988 for immediate support.
This information is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.