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Eating Disorders

Almost everyone worries about their bodyweight occasionally. People who have eating disorders take such concerns to extremes. Eating disorders are abnormal eating habits that may warned your health or even your life.

Eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder include extreme emotions, attitudes, and habits surrounding weight and food issues. Eating disorders are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for females and males.

An eating disorder can be an illness that causes serious disorders to your daily diet, like eating extremely small amounts of food or severely overeating. Someone with an eating disorder may have started out just eating small or large amounts of food, but at some point, the urge to eat less or more spiraled out of control. Severe distress or worry about obesity or shape may also characterize an eating disorder.

Eating disorders often appear during the teen years or young adulthood but may also grow throughout childhood or later in life. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

It is not known how many adults and kids suffer with other severe, significant eating disorders, including one category of eating disorders called eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). EDNOS includes eating disorders that do not meet the criteria for anorexia or bulimia nervosa. Binge-eating disorder can be a type of eating disorders called EDNOS. EDNOS is the most common diagnosis among people who seek treatment.

Eating disorders are real, treatable medical health issues. They frequently coexist along with other health issues such as depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders. Other symptoms, described in the next segment can become life-threatening if a individual does not get treatment. People who have anorexia nervosa are 18 times more likely to die earlier compared to individuals of similar age in the common population.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, eating disorders mainly impact girls and women. But eating disorders aren't only a problem for the teenage women so often depicted in the media. Men and boys may also be vulnerable. About a quarter of preadolescent cases of anorexia exist in boys, for example. And binge eating disorder attacks males and females about equally. Individuals sometimes have eating disorders without their families or friends ever suspecting they may have a problem. Aware that their behavior is abnormal, people with eating disorders may withdraw from social contact, hide their behavior, and deny which their eating habits are problematic. Making an accurate diagnosis needs the involvement of a licensed psychologist or other suitable mental health professional.

Eating disorders can severely impair individuals functioning and health. But the prospects for long-term treatment are good for most people who look for help from appropriate professionals. Qualified therapists, such as licensed psychologists with experience in this area, will help those who suffer from eating disorders regain control of their eating behaviors and their lives.