Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An eating disorder is a mental health condition characterized by abnormal eating habits and attitudes towards food, which can have severe physical and psychological consequences.
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge-eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise.
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder marked by an extreme fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading to self-imposed starvation and significant weight loss.
Binge eating disorder involves recurring episodes of consuming large amounts of food accompanied by feelings of loss of control, without engaging in compensatory behaviors like purging or excessive exercise.