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Emotional Health

Eating disorders - what are they?

Each year, millions of people in the United States are affected by serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorders. The vast majority -- more than 90% -- are adolescent and young adult women. One reason that women in this age group are particularly vulnerable to eating disorders is their tendency to go on strict diets to achieve what they think is the "ideal" figure. Researchers have found that such dieting can play a key role in triggering eating disorders.

Approximately 1% of adolescent girls develops anorexia nervosa, a dangerous condition in which they can literally starve themselves to death. Another 2-3% of young women develops bulimia nervosa, a destructive pattern of excessive overeating followed by vomiting or other "purging" behaviors to control their weight. These eating disorders also occur in men and older women, but much less frequently.

The consequences of eating disorders can be severe. For example, one in ten cases of anorexia nervosa lead to death from starvation, cardiac arrest, other medical complications, or suicide. Fortunately, increasing awareness of the dangers of eating disorders -- sparked by medical studies and extensive media coverage of the illness -- has led many people to seek help. Nevertheless, some people with eating disorders refuse to admit that they have a problem and do not get treatment. Family members and friends can help recognize the problem and encourage the person to seek treatment.