Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating habits that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health.

What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are a type of serious mental health condition characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions.

Night Eating Disorder / Syndrome

Binge-Eating Disorder Treatment

Binge-Eating Disorder Signs and Symptoms

What Causes Binge Eating Disorder?

Health Risks of Binge Eating Disorder

See more featured articles »

What is Rumination Disorder / Syndrome?

What is Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

What Does a Diagnosis of Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) Mean?

How is Anorexia Nervosa Diagnosed?

Anorexia Nervosa Complications

Anorexia Nervosa Signs and Symptoms

Is Anorexia a Metabolic Disorder?

Bulimia Nervosa Signs and Symptoms

What is a Binge-Eating Disorder?

Epidemiology of Orthorexia Nervosa

Signs and Symptoms of Orthorexia

Diagnostic Criteria for Orthorexia

Managing Indigestion (Dyspepsia)

Lifestyle Changes for Indigestion (Dyspepsia)

Uncommon Causes for Indigestion

Latest Eating Disorders News and Research

Study: Mental health providers often miss bulimia diagnosis

When presented with a vignette describing the behaviors and characteristics of a patient with disordered eating, only a quarter of mental health providers who participated in a new study were able to correctly diagnose bulimia nervosa.

1 Apr 2025

AI-powered therapy chatbot shows significant mental health benefits

Dartmouth researchers conducted the first clinical trial of a therapy chatbot powered by generative AI and found that the software resulted in significant improvements in participants' symptoms, according to results published March 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine AI.

27 Mar 2025

Researchers call for a national strategy to tackle eating disorders

The increasing number of people with eating disorders and a lack of national guidance for support teams has led to researchers calling for a new national strategy that includes specific guidance to support the remote delivery of eating disorder services.

27 Mar 2025

Healthcare professionals need better support to recognize T1DE

Healthcare professionals need better support to help recognize and treat symptoms of disordered eating in people living with type 1 Diabetes, according to new research from the University of Surrey.

20 Mar 2025

Research shows exercise and healthy eating reduce inflammation in postmenopausal women

Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä's Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences have found that women who exhibit disturbed eating behaviors and engage in low physical activity tend to have more central body fat and a higher risk of metabolic low-grade inflammation.

5 Mar 2025

Your BMI could be affecting your menstrual cycle—researchers explain how

Extreme BMIs—both high and low—are linked to irregular menstrual cycles and increased risk of anovulatory cycles, highlighting the importance of maintaining a normal BMI for reproductive health.

2 Mar 2025

Children with ARFID at higher risk for long-term health conditions

Children with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) have an elevated risk of developing psychiatric and physical conditions, a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in JAMA Pediatrics reports.

17 Feb 2025

Diabetes drugs may boost brain health but experts warn of risks

Researchers reviewed 374 studies to explore how GLP-1RAs, originally for diabetes, may impact brain health, finding potential benefits for dementia and addiction but inconsistent results for mood disorders.

16 Feb 2025

Study reveals mixed results for common stimulant in treating binge eating disorder

Patients taking a commonly used stimulant for the treatment of binge eating disorder experienced mixed results, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

3 Feb 2025

Mandatory calorie labels may worsen eating disorders

Mandatory nutrition labels may unintentionally harm individuals with eating disorders, raising concerns for public health and obesity intervention policies.

31 Jan 2025

New compound Z526 combats cancer-associated cachexia in preclinical models

In a recent study, researchers demonstrated that Z526, a novel dithiocarbamate-like compound, mitigates cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) both in vitro and in vivo.

29 Jan 2025

Calorie labels on menus harm people with eating disorders

Calorie labels on restaurant menus are negatively impacting people with eating disorders, according to a new study published today in the BMJ Public Health.

29 Jan 2025

Study links changes in opioid neurotransmitters to anorexia nervosa

A study conducted at Turku PET Centre in Finland showed that changes in the functioning of opioid neurotransmitters in the brain may underlie anorexia.

27 Jan 2025

Study finds sharp increase in mental health admissions among children in England

There was a 65% increase in the number of children and young people being admitted to general acute medical wards in hospitals in England because of a mental health concern between 2012 and 2022, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

22 Jan 2025

Study sheds light on how hand size influences weight perception

Researchers have assessed the human perception of the size and weight of body parts, specifically the hand, comparing it to the perception of objects and concluded that it is different.

17 Jan 2025

Brain maturation delays linked to unhealthy eating behaviors in youth

More than half of 23-year-olds in a European study show restrictive, emotional or uncontrolled eating behaviors, according to new research led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London.

10 Jan 2025

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': End-of-year chaos on Capitol Hill

After weeks of painstaking negotiations, Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate agreed to a major year-end package of health bills, including new regulations for drug companies and pharmacy benefit managers, and renewals of programs to combat opioid abuse and prepare for the next possible pandemic.

19 Dec 2024

Study explores how culture impacts body image for Hispanic women

While culture is intertwined with values surrounding food and body image, cultural differences have historically been overlooked by researchers and clinicians seeking to identify and treat eating disorders.

16 Dec 2024

Physical tests offer prognostic insights for lung cancer patients

A study of patients with metastatic lung cancer by researchers based in Brazil and the United States has found that their performance in simple physical tests such as sitting down, standing and walking can help physicians arrive at a prognosis and approach to treatment.

22 Oct 2024