What is an eating disorder?
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An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition where someone develops unhealthy thoughts, feelings and behaviours around food, eating, and their body. It can affect anyone, regardless of their age, gender or background. Eating disorders are not just about food – they are often connected to difficult emotions, low self-esteem, and a need for control.
There are different types of eating disorders, but they all involve an unhealthy relationship with food. Some of the most common types include:
- Anorexia nervosa – This is when someone tries to keep their weight as low as possible by not eating enough food, exercising too much, or both. People with anorexia often have a distorted view of their body, seeing themselves as overweight even if they are underweight.
- Bulimia nervosa – Bulimia involves a cycle of binge eating (eating a large amount of food in a short time) followed by behaviours to avoid gaining weight, such as vomiting, taking laxatives, or over-exercising. Like anorex...
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