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What are eating disorders?
Disordered eating refers to mild and transient changes in eating patterns that occur in relation to a stressful event, an illness, or even a desire to modify the diet for a variety of health and personal appearance reasons. The problem may be no more than a bad habit, a style of eating adapted from friends or family members, or an aspect of preparing for athletic competition.
While disordered eating can lead to weight loss or weight gain and to certain nutritional problems, it rarely requires in-depth professional attention. On the other hand, disordered eating can develop into an eating disorder. If disordered eating becomes sustained, distressing, or starts to interfere with everyday activities, then it may require professional evaluation.
Given Americans' interest in being fit and the widespread practice of dieting, it can sometimes be difficult to tell where disordered eating stops and an eating disorder begins. Indeed, many eating disorders get their start from a simple diet or inadvertent weight loss.
It is known that disordered eating or dieting can precipitate an eating disorder, and it is important to understand that when we talk of an eating disorder, we are talking about an illness. Eating disorders involve physiological changes associated with food restricting, binge eating, purging, and fluctuations in weight. They also involve a number of emotional and cognitive changes that affect the way a person perceives and experiences his or her body.
An eating disorder is not a diet, a sign of personal weakness, or a problem that will go away by itself. An eating disorder requires professional attention.
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Disordered Eating |
Eating Disorders |
| Essential Distinction |
A reaction to life situations. A habit. Problematic behaviors. |
An illness. |
| Psychological Symptoms |
Infrequent thoughts and behaviors about body, foods, and eating that do not lead to health, social, school, and work problems. |
Frequent and persistent thoughts and behaviors about body, foods, and eating that do lead to health, social, school, and work problems |
| Associated Medical Problems |
Transient weight changes or nutritional problems; rarely causes major medical complications. |
Potential for major medical complications that lead to hospitalization or even death. |
| Treatment |
Mental health services and nutritional counseling can be helpful but are not usually essential.
Problem may go away without treatment, but disordered eating is a risk for an eating disorder. |
Requires specific professional medical and mental health treatment. |
This page was last updated on November 29, 2010.
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