Eating disorders: The weight of food

Eating disorders (i.e., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder) involve abnormal eating behaviors and often include irregular thoughts towards food and distorted body image. Eating disorders are frequently kept secret by patients and may be intertwined with other psychiatric disorders, like depression, making the disease difficult to diagnose and treat. Signs and symptoms of eating disorders generally do not develop quickly, but rather reveal themselves over time, often resulting in long-term health consequences, including death. Both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment, including psychotherapy, should be considered on an individual basis.