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An eating disorder is a serious psychological condition. The sufferer is obsessed with food, diet and often body image to the point where their quality of life suffers, and their health is at extreme risk from their long-term poor or inadequate diet. Most victims of an eating disorder do not recognize that they have a problem and they will refuse treatment and attempt to hide their abnormal behavior from others. Treatment of eating disorders can take decades, so early identification may be the difference between life and death for the patient.

For those who have already been diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating or another eating disorder and are in treatment, we want to help you learn as much as you can about the eating disorder and to offer you support in your recovery. We want to give you up-to-date information about what an eating disorder is (and what it isn't). There are some common myths about eating disorders that aren't correct.

We believe that the more you understand about anorexia, bulimia and the other eating disorders and issues like therapy, the more likely you are to get the full benefit of treatment.

Finally, if you feel like you have an eating disorder but haven't been diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia or binge eating, read the information here anyway. It may help you to decide to see a doctor or mental health therapist for evaluation and/or treatment.

Challenges of Recovery
megafl wrote:

Hello All! I am new to the site, but certainly not to eating disorders. I have been anorexic/bulimic for the last 7+ years (I am 24 now) and finally decided that I can't let this disease control my life anymore. Continue reading my story, and if you can help, write to me here

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A Growing Problem: Pro-Anorexia Web Sites

Male Eating Disorders: How Much Do We Really Understand? UK

The Girl Who Was Anorexic at the Age of 8

National Eating Disorders Assn. Issues Strategies for Schools to Identify, Assist Students with Eating Disorders

Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body

"These beautifully written, sensitive, and empathetic stories tell the heart-wrenching truth about the critical, harmful way women and girls regard themselves -- with normalized self-hate. Martin gives voice to so many who are suffering, many whose self-hatred has insidiously become part of everyday conversation. She offers the reader deep insight based on extensive research and authentic interviews, and demands that we stop settling for self-hate. Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters will undoubtedly change lives."

Buy the book more books on Eating Disorders

Do Body and Food Issues Differ by Culture?

Although a great deal of early research on body image and eating disorders focused on upper/middle class Caucasians living in America or under the influence of Western ideals, many researchers are realizing that eating disorders are not isolated to this particular group. They are also realizing the differences in body image between occur in different races and genders (Pate, Pumariega, Hester 1992). Recently, several studies have shown that eating disorders transcend these specific guidelines. Continue reading when you click here.