Eating disorders are serious, complex and life-threatening conditions that can have significant impacts on physical and mental health. Eating disorders typically first develop in adolescence or early adulthood, but they can develop at any age. People may die as a direct result of the eating disorder, or from associated complications. In fact, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

How Can You Tell If You Have An Eating Disorder?

Here's how you can tell if you might have an eating disorder - 

• Do you think obsessively about your weight, shape or size?
• Are you afraid of gaining weight?
• Do you believe that being thin will make things easier for you?
• Do other people tell you that they're concerned about your weight loss or food restriction habits? 

What Are the Different Types of Eating Disorders?

You may know someone who has an eating disorder or you might be living with one yourself. It’s important to know what to do if you suspect that a loved one is suffering from an eating disorder.

There are several different types of eating disorders that vary in severity and symptoms:

• Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by low body weight (less than 85 percent of expected weight), a distorted body image and intense fear of gaining weight. People with anorexia nervosa will often go to great lengths to keep their weight as low as possible by restricting their food intake, exercising excessively or abusing laxatives or diuretics. They tend to restrict certain foods from their diet and adopt food rituals like cutting food into small pieces or refusing to eat around other people. A key sign is “body checking” behaviour such as frequently weighing themselves; pinching the fat on their bodies; measuring their waistline; staring at themselves in the mirror for long periods; comparing themselves to others; seeking reassurance about appearance from others; wearing baggy clothes to hide shape and/or weighing their food to make sure it matches what they think it should weigh for someone who looks like them (for example, 80 grams).
• Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of binge-eating followed by purging behaviours like self-induced vomiting or abusing laxatives, enemas or diuretics – all done in order to mask the amount eaten during a binge episode. They may also use other forms of inappropriate compensatory behaviours like fasting, exercising excessively or abusing diet pills after overeating. Bingeing typically occurs when they are alone since they feel embarrassed about how much they are consuming during
• Binge Eating Disorder is similar to bulimia but does not include the purging component. 
• OSFED includes any other specified or unspecified feeding or eating disorders that don’t fit into other categories (such as EDNOS). 
• UFED refers to any other specified feeding or eating disorder that doesn’t fit into another category (such as EDNOS).

What Triggers an Eating Disorder?

• Binge eating disorder is triggered by emotional distress, boredom, and negative emotions.
• Bulimia nervosa is triggered by anxiety, low self-esteem, and negative emotions.
• Anorexia nervosa is triggered by low self-esteem and body image issues.

How to Treat an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are a complex problem, and treatment can vary from person to person. It's important to remember that recovering from an eating disorder isn't a one-size-fits-all process. It can take time and multiple different types of therapy or medications to find what works best for your body.

Some people may need medication, while others will benefit more from group or individual psychotherapy sessions with a mental health professional. Many people with anorexia or bulimia also benefit from family therapy sessions in addition to individual sessions with their doctor or therapist. You might be surprised at how many resources are available if you live near large cities like New York City or Los Angeles—but even smaller cities have available resources if you're willing to look!

What is the Mental Health Impact of Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders can be devastating to one’s mental health. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that almost half of people who have anorexia or bulimia will develop major depression, and up to 20% of those with eating disorder symptoms report experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Eating disorders are a complex problem that requires long term solutions. Eating disorders are a spectrum of mental health problems, which can be life-threatening, especially when left untreated or in the hands of self-harmers or suicide attempters who don't seek help.

Your choice to seek help for an eating disorder is a courageous and healthy one. Getting treatment as soon as possible will help you on your journey to recovery. Eating disorder treatment may begin with a medical evaluation by your primary care doctor or, if needed, getting referred to a psychiatrist who has experience in treating eating disorders. After that initial assessment, your doctor can refer you to a mental health professional who specialises in eating disorders, who can then help you devise the best plan for recovery and follow-up care.