Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are serious illnesses marked by severe disturbances to one’s eating behaviors. Although many people may be concerned about their health, weight, or appearance from time to time, some people become fixated or obsessed with weight loss, body weight or shape, and controlling their food intake. These may be signs of an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are not a choice. These disorders can adversely affect a person’s physical and mental health, and in some cases, they can be life-threatening. With treatment, however, people can recover from eating disorders.
Who is at risk for eating disorders?
Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, body weights, and genders. Even people who appear healthy can have eating disorders and be extremely ill. People with eating disorders can be underweight, average weight, or overweight.
The exact cause of eating disorders is not fully understood. Research suggests a combination of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors can raise a person’s risk.
What are the common types of eating disorders?
Common types of eating disorders include:
- Anorexia nervosa: People with anorexia nervosa severely avoid or restrict food intake due to a distorted self-image or an intense fear of gaining weight. Even when dangerously underweight, they may see themselves as overweight. Some people with anorexia nervosa may also have binge eating and purging episodes.
- Binge-eating disorder: People with binge-eating disorder regularly lose control of their eating and eat unusually large amounts of food. People with binge-eating disorder are often overweight or obese.
- Bulimia nervosa: People with bulimia nervosa regularly binge eat and then engage in unhealthy behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as forced vomiting or the use of laxatives. People with bulimia nervosa may maintain an average weight or be overweight.
- Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): People with ARFID limit the amount and variety of food they eat due to their anxiety or fear of the consequences of eating (such as choking or vomiting) or dislike of a food’s characteristics (such as its appearance or texture). People with ARFID are frequently underweight.
People exhibiting any combination of these symptoms may have an eating disorder and should talk to a health care provider.
What are the signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa?
Signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa include: | Over time, anorexia nervosa can lead to numerous serious health consequences, including: |
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Anorexia nervosa can be fatal. It has an extremely high death rate compared with other mental disorders. People with anorexia nervosa are at risk of dying from medical complications associated with starvation. Suicide is a leading cause of death for people diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org . In life-threatening situations, call 911.
What are the signs and symptoms of binge-eating disorder?
Signs and symptoms of binge-eating disorder include: | Over time, binge eating can lead to serious health consequences, including: |
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What are the signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa?
The signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa include the same signs and symptoms as binge eating. They also include the following, which aim to get rid of food after binge eating: | Over time, bulimia nervosa can lead to serious health consequences, including: |
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What are the signs and symptoms of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder?
Signs and symptoms of ARFID include: | Over time, ARFID can lead to serious health consequences, including: |
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What mental illnesses can co-occur with eating disorders?
People with eating disorders are at risk for co-occurring mental illnesses, which most often include depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. People with eating disorders are also at a higher risk for suicide. It’s critical to treat any co-occurring conditions as part of the treatment plan.
How are eating disorders treated?
Eating disorders can be treated successfully. Early detection and treatment are important for recovery. Treatment plans for eating disorders include:
- Individual, group, or family psychotherapy to identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors about food. Learn more about psychotherapy.
- Medical care and monitoring to treat the health consequences of an eating disorder and monitor overall well-being.
- Nutritional counseling to help people eat well and reach and maintain a healthy weight.
- Medication to treat the symptoms of some eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder, and to reduce symptoms of co-occurring anxiety or depression. There are currently no medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the symptoms of anorexia nervosa or ARFID.
Some people with a severe eating disorder may need to be in a hospital or residential treatment program.
A person’s family can play a crucial role in treatment. They can encourage a family member with eating or body image issues to seek help and can provide support during treatment. Research suggests that family-based treatment can improve eating disorder treatment outcomes, particularly for adolescents.
How can I find help?
If you have concerns about your eating behavior or mental health, talk to a primary care provider. They can refer you to a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker, who can help you figure out the next steps. Find tips for talking with a health care provider about your mental health.
You can learn more about getting help on the NIMH website. You can also learn about finding support and locating mental health services in your area on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website.
What are clinical trials and why are they important?
Clinical trials are research studies that look at ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions. These studies help show whether a treatment is safe and effective in people. Some people join clinical trials to help doctors and researchers learn more about a disease and improve health care. Other people, such as those with health conditions, join to try treatments that aren’t widely available.
NIMH supports clinical trials across the United States. Talk to a health care provider about clinical trials and whether one is right for you. Learn more about participating in clinical trials.
For more information
Learn more about mental health disorders and topics. For information about various health topics, visit the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus resource.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
NIH Publication No. 24-MH-4901
Revised 2024