Eating disorders affect people, both male and female, from all races and socio-economic groups. Anorexia involves such extreme restriction of food intake that nutritional needs are not met. Over time starvation occurs. Bulimia involves the consumption of huge amounts of food, followed by the purging behaviour of vomiting, laxative use, over exercising or all of these. Compulsive over eating involves continuous over eating and differs markedly from bulimia in that no purging behaviour is involved.
Eating continues unsignalled by hunger or satisfaction.
These disorders are not exclusive and often the purging of bulimia joins the starving behaviour of anorexia. Psychologically too, these disorders are similar. Sufferers usually have low self-esteem and are obsessed with food. Body image is usually distorted. Often there is perfectionistic thinking and often a history of stress, social pressures or psychological problems.