Eating Disorders: MedlinePlus [NEW TOPIC PAGE]

Eating Disorders: MedlinePlus

A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health

Eating Disorders

Also called: Anorexia nervosa, Binge eating, Bulimia 

Eating disorders are serious behavior problems. They can include severe overeating or not consuming enough food to stay healthy. They also involve extreme concern about your shape or weight.

Types of eating disorders include

• Anorexia nervosa, in which you become too thin, but you don't eat enough because you think you are fat
• Bulimia nervosa, which involves periods of overeating followed by purging, sometimes through self-induced vomiting or using laxatives
• Binge-eating, which is out-of-control eating

Women are more likely than men to have eating disorders. They usually start in the teenage years and often occur along with depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.

Eating disorders can lead to heart and kidney problems and even death. Getting help early is important. Treatment involves monitoring, talk therapy, nutritional counseling, and sometimes medicines.

NIH: National Institute of Mental Health

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• Anorexia nervosa
• Binge eating
• Bulimia
• Pica
• Rumination disorder

Related Topics

• Weight Control
• Food and Nutrition
• Mental Health and Behavior

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Eating Disorders is theNational Institute of Mental Health

• Start Here

  • Eating Disorders(American Psychiatric Association)
  • Eating Disorders(National Institute of Mental Health)
  • Also available in Spanish

• Overviews

  • Eating Disorders(Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
  • Eating Disorders(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Eating Disorders(National Institute of Mental Health)

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder(F.E.A.S.T.)

• Treatment

  • Eating Disorder Treatment: Know Your Options(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Medicines for Treating Mental Health Conditions: A Review of the Research for Adults and Caregivers(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
  • Also available in Spanish

• Nutrition

  • Healthy Eating(NAMI)
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• Disease Management

  • Intervention: Help a Loved One Overcome Addiction(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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• Specific Conditions

  • Anorexia Nervosa(Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
  • Anorexia Nervosa(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Binge Eating Disorder(Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
  • Binge Eating Disorder(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Bulimia Nervosa(Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
  • Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)(NAMI)
  • Orthorexia: When Eating Healthy Goes Awry(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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• Related Issues

  • Bulimia (and Oral Health)(Columbia University, College of Dental Medicine)
  • Compulsive Exercise(Nemours Foundation)
  • What People with Anorexia Nervosa Need to Know about Osteoporosis(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
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• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Anorexia(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Anorexia Nervosa(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Binge-Eating Disorder(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Bulimia(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Eating Disorders(National Institutes of Health)
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• Research

  • Spotlight on Eating Disorders(National Institute of Mental Health)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: Quality of life impairment and the attitudinal and behavioral features...
  • Article: Detecting symptoms, early intervention, and preventative education: eating disorders &...
  • Article: Treating men with eating disorders in the NHS.
  • Article: Mentalizing in self vs. parent representations and working models of...
  • Eating Disorders -- see more articles
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• Dictionaries/Glossaries

  • Eating Disorders Glossary(F.E.A.S.T.)
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• Directories

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
  • Find a Registered Dietitian(Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
  • Help for Mental Illnesses(National Institute of Mental Health)
  • Mental Health Treatment Program Locator(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
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• Organizations

  • American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • National Institute of Mental Health
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• MedlinePlus Magazine

  • Eating Disorders: Symptoms and Warning Signs
  • Males and Eating Disorders
  • Understanding Eating Disorders
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• Children

  • Kids and Eating Disorders(Nemours Foundation)
  • Pica(Nemours Foundation)
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• Teenagers

  • Binge Eating Disorder(Nemours Foundation)
  • Compulsive Exercise(Nemours Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Eating Disorders(Nemours Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • I Think My Friend May Have an Eating Disorder. What Should I Do?(Nemours Foundation)
  • Teen Eating Disorders: Tips to Protect Your Teen(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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• Women

  • Pregorexia: A Legitimate Problem during Pregnancy?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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• Patient Handouts

  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Binge eating
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Bulimia
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Pica
  • Also available in Spanish
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