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An eating disorder is a serious psychological condition. The sufferer is obsessed with food, diet and often body image to the point where their quality of life suffers, and their health is at extreme risk from their long-term poor or inadequate diet. Most victims of an eating disorder do not recognize that they have a problem and they will refuse treatment and attempt to hide their abnormal behavior from others. Treatment of eating disorders can take decades, so early identification may be the difference between life and death for the patient.

For those who have already been diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating or another eating disorder and are in treatment, we want to help you learn as much as you can about the eating disorder and to offer you support in your recovery. We want to give you up-to-date information about what an eating disorder is (and what it isn't). There are some common myths about eating disorders that aren't correct.

We believe that the more you understand about anorexia, bulimia and the other eating disorders and issues like therapy, the more likely you are to get the full benefit of treatment.

Finally, if you feel like you have an eating disorder but haven't been diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia or binge eating, read the information here anyway. It may help you to decide to see a doctor or mental health therapist for evaluation and/or treatment.

I'm Struggling
heidi31 wrote:

Last year I mustered up the courage to admit to myself that I had a disorder which I could not control, and after months of failed attempts to beat my disorder alone, I sought the help of medical professionals. Last year, after a few months of treatment, I found the strength within myself to get better and to live a non-disordered life for a few months. Continue reading my story, and if you can help, write to me here

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Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder

Lock, a psychiatrist specializing in adolescence, and le Grange, an assistant professor of psychiatry, have written a comprehensive book on a difficult topic. They present some new concepts on the management of eating disorders that are somewhat contradictory to current thinking, and make valid points backed by research (the authors have a five-year grant for studying the treatment of anorexia nervosa).

Buy the book more books on Eating Disorders

For Parents: Eating Disorders Are A Serious Mental Health Issue

Recognition of eating disorders as real and treatable diseases is critically important. The consequences of eating disorders can be severe. For example, one in ten cases of anorexia nervosa leads to death from starvation, cardiac arrest, kidney failure, other medical complications, or suicide.

Continue reading when you click here.