What Happens to Your Body During an Eating Disorder: A Doctor Explains

If you or someone you love is living with an eating disorder, you may already know how much it affects…

Understanding the Overlap Between Eating Disorders and OCD Eating disorders frequently overlap with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is a condition…

School’s out, and the house is full again. Maybe your teen is home all day for the first time since…

In a culture that increasingly celebrates optimization, efficiency, and self-improvement, health and fitness apps are often framed as tools of…

Misunderstood and sometimes even normalized, eating disorders affect around 10% of the U.S. population, and rates are on the rise.…

The connection between alcohol use and eating disorders is more common—and more complex—than many people realize. Research shows that up…

Many people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may notice that their eating habits don’t follow a predictable rhythm. Maybe you lose…

For many adults, eating has never felt straightforward. Certain textures or smells might make you tense up before you even…

Is it “picky eating” or something more serious? Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a serious eating disorder that affects…

Anorexia nervosa in males is far more common than stereotypes suggest. Risk factors can include genetics, co-occurring conditions (like depression…

Amenorrhea, or the absence of menstruation, affects many individuals with eating disorders due to hormonal disruptions caused by weight loss,…

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an important moment to examine how trauma — including intimate partner violence (IPV) — shapes…

Reaching for a late-night snack occasionally is common. But when most calories are consumed in the evening or in the…

When most people hear the phrase “eating disorders,” they often think of adolescents or young adults. Media depictions, research, and…

Eating disorders impact people of every age, gender, body type, and background, yet they are still misunderstood and surrounded by…

Co-occurring substance use and eating disorder symptoms are common and clinically complex. When these conditions exist together, they interact in…

What is Refeeding Syndrome? Refeeding syndrome is a serious and potentially fatal complication of nutritional rehabilitation. It occurs in significantly…

What is Lanugo? Lanugo is fine, soft hair that typically appears on newborns to help regulate body temperature. During fetal…

Food and health dominate today’s cultural conversation. Scroll through any social media platform and you’ll be bombarded by “What I…

Purging affects all major organ systems. Side effects of purging range from clinically insignificant presentations in the eyes to serious…

When most people hear about eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa often come to mind first. In more recent…

Food restriction related to eating disorders like, anorexia nervosa and ARFID, can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition can cause serious, whole-body…

Endocrine Abnormalities of Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa and its associated malnutrition and overexercise can cause a range of endocrinological abnormalities.…

Eating disorders often carry an aura of mystery—steeped in misconceptions that can harm those who need help. Typically, the public…

Sports are an important part of many adolescents' lives, offering valuable life skills, opportunities for personal growth, and physical health…

Each year on June 2, communities across the globe unite for World Eating Disorders Action DayTM (WEDAD), a collective effort…

Bradycardia, or low heart rate, is a common and potentially serious complication of eating disorders, affecting up to 95% of…

When author Glennon Doyle revealed her struggle with anorexia nervosa in 2023, she said that she was shocked by her…

The internet is the modern-day wild, wild west. Within just a few minutes of scrolling on TikTok, you’ll come across…

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Characterized by symptoms such…

Eating disorders are complex, brain-based illnesses that affect millions of people. Over the years, eating disorder diagnoses have evolved, as…

Knowing the why behind something can be empowering; though this is true everywhere, it can be particularly resonant within the…

Did you know that nearly twenty percent of Americans identify as neurodivergent? Did you know that about ten percent of…

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can affect anyone. A wide variety of factors can influence how a…

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is often mistaken for “picky eating” but involves severe food avoidance or restriction. This condition…

Anyone who has ever lived with an eating disorder likely understands the fact that illnesses like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa,…

Exercise and movement can be an important aspect for maintaining our wellbeing. Just as nourishing our bodies with food, wearing…

Gideon Whitehead says he’s struggled with ARFID for as long as he can remember. Because many people aren't aware that…

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can impact anyone. They can be caused by a wide variety of…

Body image issues are a growing concern for adolescents, and parents and family play a crucial role in shaping their…

You look in the mirror for what feels like all hours of the day. You cannot stop fixating on your…

Recovery from diabulimia (ED-DMT1) is possible with proper, compassionate support. Individuals struggling with diabulimia need to know that diabetes management…

Eating disorders (EDs) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are both complex and distressing mental health conditions, each with unique characteristics, yet…

In recent years, there has been an increase in cultural awareness surrounding Neurodiversity. The term encompasses conditions such as autism…

What is the difference between disordered eating and eating disorders? Disordered eating includes behaviors like skipping meals, dieting, and moralizing…

What is ARFID? Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterized by food avoidance or restriction that results…

Eating disorders are serious and complex health issues with a wide variety of formidable health impacts. For those with more…

For many years, I didn’t know if the destruction I had inflicted on my body in the form of bulimia…

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder? Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is defined as a mental health condition in which a person…

Eating disorders are common, treatable conditions that affect people in many different ways. Living with an eating disorder can make…

Weight stigma affects all of us, including young children who can experience this in the form of name-calling, cyberbullying, and…

Stereotypes based on weight, shape, and size run rampant in our modern society and help inform weight stigma, a dangerous…

September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about suicide and fostering open dialogue…

Lauren Gerber says she always considered herself to be a fairly obsessive person. But she never identified as someone with…

Our society continues to perpetuate the myth that eating disorders are an issue primarily affecting young, thin white women. While…

By reducing mental health stigmas, increasing awareness around the elevated risk of suicide among individuals with eating disorders, and promoting…

Some signs of eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) overlap, so it can be hard to know where one…

The benefits of athletics are well-established. Participating in organized sports can help you build self-esteem, recognize the value of teamwork,…

Eating disorders and substance use disorders are mental illnesses – not moral failings. With early detection, treatment intervention, and ongoing…

Orthorexia is a form of disordered eating characterized by an obsession with “healthy” or “clean” eating, often causing anxiety and…

You don’t know what to do. You’ve never had to worry about your twelve-year-old son before. His school report cards…

Kelsey Gilchriest, a peer mentor at the virtual eating disorder treatment provider Equip, began having issues with food at an…

Gastroparesis is a stomach condition that is highly prevalent within the eating disorder community. The term “gastroparesis” directly translates to…

Monte Nido’s most recent outcomes show that 85% of all clients had a co-occurring diagnosis of a mood, anxiety or…

Weight changes, fatigue and insomnia can be common signs of both depression and eating disorders. So, how can you figure…

Before Stacy Jones was diagnosed with an eating disorder, she struggled with a related but separate issue: body dysmorphia. Body…

A quick online search for “signs of an eating disorder” delivers you countless websites listing warning signs and common symptoms,…

Eating disorders (EDs) are complex, brain-based illnesses that have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness. They…

Note: In this blog, we use identity-first language (e.g., “an autistic individual”) to reflect those who embrace autism as an…

What is Binge Eating Disorder (BED)? Binge eating disorder (BED) stands out as the most prevalent eating disorder in the…

Eating disorders are serious but treatable conditions that can impact anyone in various ways. Sometimes eating disorders co-occur with other…

Eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder are serious health conditions that can have huge impacts on your physical, mental, and…

Katherine Hill, MD, knows exactly when she first became interested in understanding the complexities of eating disorders: during her career…

Many people fit into a “gray area” when it comes to eating disorder behaviors. Perhaps they experience purging, but not…

An eating disorder can present in many seemingly unexpected ways and can have immense impacts on an individual's health and…

Rumination disorder (rumination syndrome) is an eating and feeding disorder in which food is involuntarily regurgitated into the mouth. In…

An eating disorder is a serious health condition that can impact anyone regardless of gender, race, background, and even age.…

Almost all types of mental health conditions are more common among people who have an eating disorder. These conditions are…

Did you know that nearly 30 million Americans experience an eating disorder in their lifetime? Eating disorders are health conditions…

Despite all the messaging that tells us otherwise, health looks different in everybody. Unfortunately, diet culture has strong-armed society into…

Many people have heard of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, but an eating disorder can present…

Categorizing and labeling any eating disorder is a tricky subject. On one hand, having a clear diagnosis makes it easier…

Eating is an important factor in maintaining physical and mental well-being. However, a focus on “healthy eating” and nutrition can…

Diabulimia is a serious eating disorder that is often overlooked. It is defined as the deliberate misuse of insulin among…

Many people struggle with eating disorders. Commonly understood diagnoses like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa account for many cases of…

What is Atypical Anorexia? Atypical anorexia occurs when all criteria are met for anorexia nervosa such as restricting food and…

Every eating disorder is a complex psychiatric disorder, and as such, tends to have equally complex causes that vary from…

For many, the holiday season brings feelings of excitement, warmth, and closeness with family and friends. However, for those who…

Who hasn’t wanted a midnight snack? Many people often do. But for some, this is more than just a late…

Although Orthorexia Nervosa is not included as a standalone disorder in the DSM-V, it’s recognized by most in the psychiatric…

The word “pica” is Latin for magpie—a bird known for eating almost anything. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual…

A person’s body image is defined by feelings and judgments they have about their own body and appearance; perceptions around…

The first clinical reporting of a man with an eating disorder occurred in 1689, yet men have often been left…

Many eating disorders, such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, are well-known even among non-medical professionals and oftentimes easy to…

How do we know when disordered eating becomes an eating disorder? Disordered eating does not interfere with one’s ability to…

It is an exciting time in the world of brain and mental health research. Over the past few years, there…

I never thought I would be making a post about the importance of advocating for your mental health when it…

We all have our idiosyncrasies around eating. So when do our behaviors around eating become a problem? When are our…