What Are Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are characterized by disturbed eating behaviours and are generally accompanied by a preoccupation with food and body image or shape. They include anorexia, bulimia and binge eating or compulsive overeating.

Anorexia is characterized by self-starvation and extreme weight loss.

Symptoms include:

• weight 15% or more below healthy weight for age and height
• intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
• distorted body image
• in females, loss of menstrual periods

Bulimia is characterized by periods of binge eating followed by purging.

Symptoms include:

• recurrent episodes of bingeing and purging
• purging by self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, enemas or other medications, fasting or excessive dieting
• sense of being out of control of eating during binge
• frequent dieting.

Binge Eating or Compulsive Overeating is characterized by periods of binge eating or continuous overeating often followed by periods of dieting or fasting.

Symptoms include:

• recurrent episodes of binge eating or excessive eating when not physiologically hungry
• sense of being unable to control eating
• periods of dieting or fasting