To be blunt: they can kill you. You can die from an eating disorder - it is life & death. Explained: eating disorders are important to learn about because everybody needs & deserves help. Almost 50% of people with eating disorders meet the criteria for depression & only 1 in 10 people (that's both men & women!) with eating disorders receive treatment. On top of that, only 35% that receive treatment for eating disorders get it at a specialized facility for eating disorders.
WebMD is a good place to learn about anything medical related. Wikipedia is another good place to learn about eating disorders in general. Two great sources.
The best thing to do about eating disorders is to get help. If you or you know someone that has one, go see your doctor. Your doctor will recommend you to a therapist and a nutritionist to help you overcome your eating disorders. Eating disorders can be fatal so it is extremely important for you to get help!
About 90% of eating disorders affect females.
There are many "key players" and importnat people in the treatment for eating disorders. Medically, the doctors and nurses are extremely important in keeping the patient alive and helping them back to a medically healthy body. Therapists are also very important because eating disorders are truly mental disorders.
A good website is somethingfishy.com. There you will find information about various eating disorders. Anorexia is an abnormal perception that one's body is fat. Bulimia is similar but instead of not eating the person forces themselves to throw up all the food. There are other disorders in which a person compulsively overeats.
the study of eating disorders
Eating disorders are not caused by physical deformities or problems in the brain. Instead, they are more like fears and delusions. Therapies that work for eating disorders are meant to try and help the affected patient or individual learn to have a healthy relaionship with food again and to be healthy.
Eating Disorders Association was created in 1989.
Eating Disorders Coalition was created in 2000.
Eating disorders are very serious. If you have a eating disorder you may not be able to control how little or how much you eat. Although they are sometimes seen as trivial disorders, they are very serious and can result in long-lasting damage to your body or even death. It is important you get help, such as therapy as soon as possible if you suspect that you are loved one has a eating disorder.
Eating disorders are very serious mental illnesses. It is important to find someone skilled in helping your friend. A local mental hospital may be a great place to find information.
Two eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulemia nervosa.