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Eating Disorders

Definition

Eating disorders are mental disorders defined by abnormal eating habits that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health.

Analogy

Imagine if your relationship with food was like a toxic friendship. You know it's harmful and causing you distress, but you feel compelled to maintain it. That's what people with eating disorders experience.

Related terms

Anorexia Nervosa: An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image which leads to self-imposed starvation and excessive weight loss.

Bulimia Nervosa: This is another type of eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting (purging), fasting, or over-exercising.

Binge-Eating Disorder: This disorder involves regular episodes of extreme overeating and feelings of loss of control about eating, but unlike bulimia nervosa, periods of binge-eating are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting.