Eating Disorder

An eating disorder involves a heavy fixation on appearing overweight or appealing unattractive. An eating disorder typically occurs when an individual has distortions in their thought process regarding body image, which can lead to behaviors that interfere with that person’s ability to function.

Two of the most common eating disorders are 1) Anorexia Nervosa, which is characterized by the utilization of extreme strategies to lose weight such as dieting, fasting, over exercising or using laxatives, and 2) Bulimia Nervosa, which is characterized by frequent episodes of eating large quantities of food followed by a behavior to compensate for that binge, such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercising.

    • Excessive weight loss or fluctuations in weight

    • Fasting

    • Counting calories

    • Binge eating

    • Vomiting or laxative use

    • Excessive exercise patterns

    • Fainting

    • Extreme dissatisfaction with body

    • Fear of gaining weight

    • Brittle hair and nails

    • Low blood pressure

    • Feeling cold frequently

    • Worn tooth enamel

    • Eating disorders affect up to 30 million people in the U.S. annually.

    • Eating disorders are 2-3 times more common in females than in males.

    • Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

    • More than half (56.2%) of respondents with anorexia nervosa, 94.5% with bulimia nervosa, and 78.9% with binge eating disorder met criteria for at least one other of the core DSM-IV disorders.

Take the First Step Towards Mental Wellness

Concerned about your mental health or that of a loved one? The Mental Health Association's free and confidential screening tool can help you identify signs of mental health conditions and connect you with resources for support.

  • Learn more about your mental health

  • Identify signs of mental health conditions

  • Connect with local resources for support

Start Your Journey Towards Mental Wellness Today!

Previous

Depression
Next

Psychosis