Eating disorders

What is an eating disorder?

Eating disorders all have one thing in common - they all involve problems related to your relationship with food. However, eating disorders are as much or more to do with control (or loss of control) over your body than they are to do with not liking food. See also the separate leaflet called Types of Eating Disorder.

What causes an eating disorder?

Food is the tool you use to help you cope with emotional distress, or to feel more in control of your life. Sadly, the food-related behaviour that results can fuel your psychological problems. For instance, self-loathing and low self-esteem are common in bulimia and binge eating disorder. You may feel an overwhelming urge to binge, because it gives you temporary relief from these feelings. However, afterwards you may feel even more disgusted with yourself because of your 'weakness' for giving in to the urge to binge.

Patient picks for Eating disorders

Mental health

Video: What are the causes of anorexia?

Whether it's you, a family member or a close friend who's suffering from anorexia, there are always going to be a lot of questions around this complex condition. Our experts take a look at some of the main ones.

by Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP

Mental health

Types of eating disorders

In recent years, it's become clear that there are many people with different types of eating disorders who don't fit the classic profile of someone with anorexia or bulimia.

by Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP

So eating disorders are classified together because they have two things in common: the first is an unhealthy relationship with food (too little, too much, only the 'right' kind) and the second is the psychological distress which goes with it. Whatever kind of eating disorder you have, it's likely to have a major impact on your life.