eating disorders

n. The eating disorders are psychological disorders that center around issues of eating behavior as well as body weight and shape. The DSM-IV-TR currently recognizes the disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and is considering the diagnosis of binge-eating disorder. Distinctions between the disorders are largely related to the individual's weight status, presence or absence of binge eating, and presence or absence of compensatory mechanisms such as vomiting or excessive exercise.

The eating disorders are thought to mainly affect females, with onset usually in the teens or 20s. The exact causes are unknown, but genetic, biological, psychological, and cultural factors are all thought to play roles in their development. Eating disorders can have serious health consequences, and anorexia nervosa is thought to have the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder. The eating disorders tend to run a chronic course if left untreated. There are widely recognized treatments for both bulimia nervosa and bingeeating disorder, and promising treatments have been developed for anorexia nervosa.