Eating disorders are one of the most difficult illnesses to track for a number of reasons. Current statistics suggest a small percentage of the overall population experiences these conditions, yet it’s almost certain that many more people struggle with an eating disorder without ever being diagnosed.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious condition impacting emotional, physical, and mental well-being. If you have a loved one with AN, it may feel scary or overwhelming to watch them struggle with the eating disorder.

The term “body image” can refer to several different ideas, including how you think about your body, how you feel about your appearance, and how you perceive your body size and shape.1 These factors can greatly affect your mental and physical health and overall well-being.

Over the years, certain stereotypes have developed around eating disorders, including the idea that they primarily affect white women and girls. Of course, this isn’t actually the case. Disordered eating behaviors and the negative self-image and poor self-esteem that often drive them impact people of all genders, races, and ages.

It is possible for someone who presents as what is considered in our society to be “normal” or “healthy” weight, “overweight,” fat, or in a larger body to still struggle with anorexia nervosa (AN). So, can you be anorexic and overweight? The short answer is yes. This is currently called atypical anorexia nervosa.

Eating disorder treatment is often covered by health insurance, but for some, the cost of treatment for an eating disorder is just too high. Some patients may still get copayments or deductible bills and must pay monthly premiums to keep their plans intact. Others don’t have health insurance at all.

Eating disorders are debilitating conditions which can affect someone’s physical, spiritual, and mental health. If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important to seek out help, though the cost of treatment makes insurance coverage necessary for most people.

Eating disorders are dangerous mental health conditions that impact many aspects of psychological, physical, and emotional health. And while every disorder can manifest in different ways for everyone, it’s important to know the differences between different eating disorders.

Anorexia nervosa is a complex, serious mental health condition that has many contributing biopsychosocial—or biological, psychological, and social—causes. These can include hormones, genetics, co-occurring mental health challenges, and societal attitudes about food, weight, fitness, and health, among others.

People eat food for any number of reasons, and not all of them have to do with physical hunger.

Watching a friend, family member, or loved one struggle with an eating disorder can be incredibly difficult. Though you want to help, you may be unsure how to help someone with an eating disorder.

If you are asking yourself, “Am I anorexic?” there’s a good chance you are. It can be helpful to know exactly what the eating disorder is and how to recognize the potential warning signs.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, severe food and caloric restriction, and a distorted body image.1

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are both serious eating disorders that impact mental, physical, and emotional health.

When people hear the word “diet,” they may automatically think that the recommendations of the eating plan are healthy. But, in many cases, that’s actually far from the truth.

The signs of an eating disorder can vary widely, depending on the type of eating disorder and the specific physiology, medical history, and present circumstances of the person.

Still, some signs are more common across all those factors.

Eating disorders are dangerous mental health conditions that can lead to a number of physical and emotional complications if left untreated. But determining when it’s time to seek treatment can be tricky.

There are many levels of anorexia nervosa treatment. Often, the best way to begin is by talking to an eating disorder specialist and determining what kind of therapy will work best for your health and circumstances.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious eating disorder that impacts mental, physical, and emotional health. As such, it can have a range of signs and symptoms, impacting someone’s overall wellness and behavior.

Periods of fasting have long been part of many religious, traditional, and cultural practices, but in recent years, the idea has become more widely adopted and used not as a spiritual tool but as a way to control diet and lose weight.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious eating disorder which can manifest in any number of ways, including as a variety of mental health concerns.

If you or a loved one are struggling with bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN), binge eating disorder (BED), or other eating disorders, you may need specific types of treatment in order to make the fullest recovery possible.

Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN) and (BN) were once thought to be primarily socially driven, caused by factors like low self-esteem and a desire to keep up with certain beauty standards.

Many eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED), are marked by episodes of compulsive eating or eating large amounts of food even when not feeling hungry or already feeling satisfied.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is one of the newest entrants to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the list of all officially recognized mental health problems. But the condition is already considered the most common eating disorder in the United States. [1]

People who experience gender dysphoria (also referred to as gender identity disorder) may engage in these behaviors to try to change parts of their bodies to more closely align with their gender identity. These disordered eating behaviors can progress into a clinical eating disorder.

Everyone overindulges every once in a while, but binge eating is different. These episodes are an extreme form of overeating, involving large amounts of food consumed in relatively short periods of time.

A binge eating episode can leave you feeling uncomfortable, but if this behavior starts recurring, it can lead to more concerning issues.

Eating disorders and substance use disorders frequently occur together. The conditions operate through similar genetic, biological, and environmental mechanisms, and often work in complex ways to maintain one another. 

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that can manifest in any number of ways, causing a range of physical, behavioral, and emotional consequences.

Still, some of the most common eating disorders have a number of more-predictable symptoms. And learning to spot them can be crucial if you think you or a loved one may have one of these conditions.

An eating disorder isn’t just a person “choosing” to engage in unhealthy eating behaviors. It is a serious mental health condition which can have serious consequences if left untreated.