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Eating Disorders: Signs, Types and How to Get Help
Eating disorders are serious, treatable mental health conditions marked by persistent disturbances in eating and related thoughts and emotions. The main types are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). They affect people of every age, gender, race and body size, and most people with an eating disorder are not underweight. Researchers estimate that about 9% of Americans, roughly 28.8 million people, will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders often occur alongside substance use, anxiety and depression, and anorexia has one of the highest death rates of any mental illness. Recovery is possible, and help works best when it starts early. Treatment usually combines therapy, nutrition support and medical monitoring.
Quick answers
What is an eating disorder?
A mental health condition involving persistent problems with eating behavior, along with distressing thoughts and emotions about food, weight or body shape. It is a medical illness, not a lifestyle choice.
What are the main types?
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and ARFID are the most common. Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) covers serious patterns that do not fit those exact criteria.
Can you have an eating disorder at a normal weight?
Yes. Most people with eating disorders are not underweight. Weight alone cannot tell you whether someone is ill or how serious it is.
Where can I get help in the US?
Start with a doctor, therapist or the ANAD helpline. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988. For mental health and substance use referrals, call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357.
What eating disorders are
The National Institute of Mental Health describes eating disorders as serious and often fatal illnesses linked to severe disturbances in eating behavior and related thoughts and emotions (NIMH). They usually begin in the teens or early adulthood, but they can start at any age.
Eating disorders are not about vanity or willpower. Genetics, brain biology, personality traits like perfectionism, trauma, dieting and cultural pressure all play a part. In the modern era, constant exposure to idealized bodies online can add to that pressure. Our page on social media addiction explores how feeds shape mood and self-image.
Types of eating disorders
| Type | What it involves | Key risks |
|---|---|---|
| Anorexia nervosa | Severe restriction of food, intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image | Heart problems, bone loss, organ damage, high mortality |
| Bulimia nervosa | Repeated binges followed by purging, fasting, laxatives or excessive exercise | Electrolyte imbalance, heart rhythm problems, dental and throat damage |
| Binge eating disorder | Recurrent episodes of eating large amounts with loss of control and distress, without purging | Shame, depression, diabetes and heart disease risk |
| ARFID | Avoiding or restricting food because of sensory sensitivity, fear of choking or lack of interest, not body image | Nutrient deficiency, weight loss, growth problems in children |
| OSFED | Serious eating disorder patterns that do not meet full criteria for another type | Risks as serious as the named disorders |
Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the US. Our page on food addiction explains how addictive-like eating overlaps with it.
Warning signs to watch for
Behavior and emotional signs
- Constant focus on food, calories, weight or body shape.
- Skipping meals, eating very small portions or cutting out whole food groups.
- Eating in secret, hiding food or disappearing to the bathroom after meals.
- Rigid food rituals, or anxiety about eating in front of others.
- Exercising compulsively, even when sick or injured.
- Withdrawing from friends and activities, irritability, low mood.
Physical signs
- Noticeable weight changes in either direction.
- Dizziness, fainting, feeling cold all the time.
- Missed periods, stomach pain, constipation.
- Swollen cheeks, dental erosion or calluses on the knuckles from purging.
- Dry skin, thinning hair, poor wound healing.
Eating disorders and addiction
Eating disorders and substance use often travel together. Some people use stimulants, diet pills, laxatives or nicotine to suppress appetite or control weight. Others drink or use drugs to numb the shame and anxiety that come with disordered eating. Both conditions share risk factors like trauma, anxiety and impulsivity, and both can involve compulsive, hard-to-control behavior.
- Bulimia and binge eating disorder are most strongly linked to alcohol and drug misuse.
- Stimulant misuse, including <a href="/guides/adderall-addiction">Adderall</a>, can begin as a way to lose weight.
- Alcohol on an empty stomach, sometimes called drunkorexia, raises the risk of poisoning and blackouts.
- Treating only one condition increases the risk of relapse in the other.
Look for a treatment program that addresses both together. Our guide to nutrition in recovery covers healthy eating after substance use, and what is addiction explains the shared brain processes.
Treatment that helps
- <strong>Medical assessment:</strong> a doctor checks heart, blood work and nutrition, and decides how much monitoring is needed.
- <strong>Psychotherapy:</strong> cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E) has strong evidence for bulimia and binge eating disorder. Family-based treatment is a first-line option for teens with anorexia.
- <strong>Nutrition counseling:</strong> a registered dietitian helps restore regular eating without new rigid rules.
- <strong>Medication:</strong> some antidepressants help bulimia, and lisdexamfetamine is FDA-approved for moderate to severe binge eating disorder.
- <strong>Level of care:</strong> options range from outpatient therapy to intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization and residential or inpatient care for medical risk.
Learn how levels of care compare in our treatment programs guide and partial hospitalization explainer. Many insurance plans cover eating disorder treatment under mental health parity rules. See does insurance cover rehab.
How to help someone you are worried about
- Choose a private, calm time and talk about specific behaviors you have noticed, not weight or appearance.
- Use "I" statements: "I have noticed you skip lunch and seem stressed, and I am worried."
- Avoid comments about food, bodies or diets, even compliments.
- Expect denial or anger. Stay patient and keep the door open.
- Offer to help find a doctor or therapist, or to go with them.
- For a child or teen, contact their doctor promptly. Early treatment improves outcomes.
Our page for people worried about someone else has more guidance on difficult conversations and caring for yourself.
What recovery looks like
Recovery is rarely a straight line. Early goals focus on medical safety and regular eating. Over time, therapy works on body image, emotions, perfectionism and the beliefs that keep the disorder going. Many people recover fully, and others learn to manage symptoms and live well.
- Eat regular meals and snacks, even when you do not feel like it.
- Unfollow accounts that promote dieting or body comparison.
- Build a support team: therapist, dietitian, doctor and trusted people.
- Plan for hard moments like holidays and stress, and treat a slip as information.
- Practice self-compassion. Shame fuels the disorder.
For free support, contact the ANAD helpline or the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. Find more options on our resources page.
Frequently asked questions
Are eating disorders a form of addiction?
They are classified as eating disorders, not addictions, but they share features like compulsive behavior, loss of control and continuing despite harm. They also commonly occur with substance use disorders.
Who gets eating disorders?
Anyone. Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities and body sizes. Men and older adults are often underdiagnosed.
Can eating disorders be cured?
Many people recover fully, especially with early treatment. Others improve significantly and manage symptoms long term. Ongoing support lowers relapse risk.
Is ARFID the same as picky eating?
No. ARFID goes beyond picky eating and causes weight loss, nutritional deficiency, dependence on supplements or major disruption to daily life.
Does social media cause eating disorders?
Social media does not cause eating disorders on its own, but exposure to diet content and idealized bodies can raise risk and worsen symptoms, especially for teens.
What should I do in an emergency?
Call 911 for fainting, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, confusion or vomiting blood. If someone is thinking about suicide, call or text 988.
Talk to someone this week
A doctor or trained helpline counselor can help you choose a safe next step. Support is free and confidential.
Call 1-800-662-4357Sources
- National Institute of Mental Health, Eating disorders
- STRIPED / Deloitte Access Economics, Social and economic cost of eating disorders in the US (2020)
- ANAD, Eating disorder statistics and helpline
- National Eating Disorders Association
- SAMHSA National Helpline
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
This page is for information only and does not replace advice from a qualified clinician who knows your history. In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.