This is an eating disorders information website.

ALERT: The media is looking for people who are willing to talk about their experiences of eating disorders.
Share your story »

-----------

What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are psychological illnesses which have a negative impact on both physical and mental health. Extreme dieting, starvation, bingeing, purging, over exercising and poor body image perception are features of eating disorders, and they do not paint a pretty picture.

Many people suffer from anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder and related conditions, which can have devastating consequences for themselves and their families.

On the surface, eating disorders appear to be about food, or rather the misuse of food, but there are usually much more complex, emotional, unresolved issues underneath.

This website provides eating disorders information, including treatment options, where to get help and support for an eating disorder, the various causes, and signs to look out for that someone may have an eating disorder. There are also profiles of the various different types of eating disorders and their criteria for diagnosis.

What’s new on this site?

Compulsive Exercise - Compulsive exercise is also known as obligatory exercise, excessive exercise, exercise addiction and anorexia athletica, and it describes a compulsion to exercise for longer and more vigorously than what is considered ‘normal’.

Chewing and Spitting - Chewing and Spitting literally involves chewing food, enjoying the taste of it, and spitting it out instead of swallowing it.

Orthorexia - Orthorexia is a term used to describe someone who has an obsession with particular types of food. They will only eat foods they perceive to be 'pure'.

Bulimia Nervosa Statistics (UK) / Bulimia Nervosa Statistics (US) - Statistics on bulimia nervosa vary widely depending on the source you consult, but here are some statistics on the incidence and prevalence of bulimia from various UK and US sources.

Binge Eating - A person who binge eats consumes abnormally large quantities of food in a short space of time, while feeling a complete lack of control over what they are doing.