Date updated: June 01, 2009
Content provided by US National Institute of Mental Health

Also called: Bulimia Nervosa, Binge purge behavior, Eating disorder bulimia, Eating Disorders, Binge eating, Bulimia

Eating disorders are seemingly simple psychological problems but can lead to serious health issues in the long run. Eating disorders could be defined as eating more or less than the normal dietary requirement of the body.

Eating disorders are also known as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-purge behavior, eating disorder - bulimia, binge eating and bulimia.

Eating disorders can classified as the follows:

Anorexia nervosa:
The condition is precipitated by a fear of getting fat or obese.

Bulimia nervosa:
It is characterized by periods of excessive eating followed by voluntary purging of the stomach by self induced vomiting or by using purgatives or laxatives.

Binge-eating:
It means uncontrolled eating.

Women are more likely to suffer from eating disorders than men to have eating disorders. This condition is seen more in adolescence and can be accompanied with anxiety and depression. Eating disorders can cause a variety of heart and kidney ailments and if not treated can also be fatal. Treatment includes "monitoring, mental health therapy, nutritional counseling and sometimes medicines".