You might be aware of disordered eating in someone before he or she develops a serious problem. Recognizing the signs of eating disorders is easier than recovery. A professional assessment can help distinguish between disordered eating and eating disorders. Contrary to popular belief, eating disorders are not just about weight, food, or even being thin or fat. Eating disorders are difficult to understand as well as to treat and cure.
Many patients describe themselves as addicted to food or at war with food or their bodies.
Many factors are thought to contribute to this growing problem, including our culture's emphasis on thinness and physical beauty, the prevalence of dieting, myths about food and nutrition, and perfectionist expectations. Eating disorders often start when an individual is dealing with a major problem, such as divorce, death, abuse, or other family problems or difficult transitions. In each case the individual feels helpless and out of control. Most clinicians and researchers view eating disorders as a result of physical, emotional, spiritual, and cultural factors. Since eating disorders are so complex, treatment can be long and challenging for both the individual and the family.