Eating disorders are characterized by serious disturbances in eating behaviors as well as intense preoccupation with issues regarding eating, weight, body size and shape that can cause health problems and emotional and social distress. Dieting can be a trigger for developing an eating disorder, but having an eating disorder is different from being on a diet. An eating disorder is an illness that shapes all aspects of a person’s life, profoundly affecting the person suffering and often his or her family and friends.

The recognized eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and a less specific category called Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). EDNOS includes the category of Binge Eating Disorder. Although there are formal guidelines that health care professionals use to diagnose eating disorders, unhealthy eating behaviors exist on a continuum. Even if a person does not meet the formal criteria for an eating disorder, she or he may be experiencing unhealthy eating behaviors that cause substantial distress and may be damaging to both physical and psychological health.