Each year, millions of people in the United States are affected by serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorders. The vast majority -- more than 90 percent -- of those afflicted with eating disorders are adolescent and young adult women. One reason that women in this age group are particularly vulnerable to eating disorders is their tendency to go on strict diets to achieve an "ideal" figure. Researchers have found that such stringent dieting can play a key role in triggering eating disorders.

Approximately 1 percent of adolescent girls develop anorexia nervosa, a dangerous condition in which they can literally starve themselves to death. Another 2 to 3 percent of young women develop bulimia nervosa, a destructive pattern of overeating followed by vomiting or other "purging" behaviors to control their weight. Other common eating disorders include exercise bulimia and binge eating. These eating disorders also occur in men and older women, but much less frequently.

The consequences of eating disorders can be severe. For example, one in 10 cases of anorexia nervosa leads to death from starvation, cardiac arrest, other medical complications or suicide. Fortunately, increasing awareness of the dangers of eating disorders, sparked by medical studies and extensive media coverage of the illness, has led many people to seek help. Nevertheless, some people with eating disorders refuse to admit they have a problem and do not get treatment. Family members and friends can help recognize the problem and encourage the person to seek treatment.

What causes an eating disorder?

In trying to understand the causes of eating disorders, scientists have studied the personalities, genetics, environments and biochemistry of people with these illnesses. As is often the case, the more that is learned, the more complex the roots of eating disorders appear to be. Although there is a clear correlation between the portrayal of the "ideal" body in the media and eating disorders, it is not clear why some at-risk individuals develop eating disorders and others do not.

Get Help

There are many different types of eating disorders with many different warning signs. If you fall into any of these descriptions for eating disorders, do not hesitate to contact your physician or a counselor. If you have friends who might have an eating disorder, please encourage them to seek help -- you may save a life!

Additional Outside Sources
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Eating Disorders, Healthline. Medically accurate health information. Accessed January 2009.

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Hotline, Counseling and Referrals: 847-831-3438. Accessed January 2009.

Overeaters Anonymous. Find a local group. Accessed January 2009.

Weight Watchers. Find a local group. Accessed January 2009.

National Eating Disorders Association. Information on eating disorders and referrals for treatment. Accessed January 2009.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for eating disorders, HealthWise KnowledgeBase. Accessed January 2009.