According to nationaleatingdisorders.org, anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by weight loss. Individuals with anorexia have a distorted image of their bodies and restrict the amount of calories that they eat to a minimum; they may also exercise compulsively as well.

According to nationaleatingdisorders.org, anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by weight loss. Individuals with anorexia have a distorted image of their bodies and restrict the amount of calories that they eat to a minimum; they may also exercise compulsively as well. A couple of warning signs include dramatic weight loss, preoccupation with weight and food they are eating, and has a fear of weight gain, there are many other behavioral characteristics as well. Some physical symptoms include dizziness or fatigue, abnormal blood work such as anemia. Anorexia can affect anyone and usually starts during adolescence but can also start at other stages in life. The consequences of anorexia include denying the body essential nutrition to survive which can lead to serious consequences (nationaleatingdisorders.org).

The national eating disorder association explains bulimia nervosa as a potentially life-threatening disorder that can be characterized by binge eating and then self induced vomiting to undo the binge eating. The individual will eat a large amount of food within a time period and then force themselves to vomit in order to make up for the amount of food they have just ate. Some signs of bulimia include going to the bathroom after the individual eats, extreme concern with weight, smell of vomit as well as other behavioral symptoms. The symptoms for anorexia and bulimia are similar. Those who suffer from bulimia may also suffer from other conditions such as substance abuse and self-inflicted injuries. The consequences of bulimia and throwing up often include dehydration that can affect the heart and other organs (nationaleatingdisorders.org).

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Binge eating is when an individual eats a large amount of food in a period of time. The individual usually feels shame and guilt after binging. An individual with binge eating disorder usually feels a lack of control when it comes to eating. They will eat even if they are not hungry and will eat until they are uncomfortably full. They also feel depressed and disgusted with themselves after they have binged. Individuals that binge eat, do not purge like in bulimia. Up to two- thirds of individuals with binge eating disorder are classified as clinically obese (nationaleatingdisorders.org).

Researchers believe that eating disorders are caused by a mixture of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological and social factors. Eating disorders may also run in families and researchers are looking to identify the DNA that may be causing it. Brain imaging also shows different patterns in those that suffer from eating disorders (nimh.nih.gov). Treatment includes therapy individually, in a group or with family, mediation, nutritional counseling and medical monitoring (nimh.nih.gov). One family therapy that seems to be effective is called the Maudsley approach and this is when the parent of the adolescent suffering from an eating disorder takes responsibility for feeding their child. This helps with weight gain and improved eating habits. CBT can be beneficial in reducing purging, by helping change the individuals thinking (nimh.nih.gov).