Eating disorder articles
Explore our curated library for reliable, current, and medically-reviewed insights on eating disorders, related mental health conditions, treatments, and beyond.
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Treating binge eating disorder at home
Binge eating disorder (BED) is one of the most recently defined eating disorders, but it is already...
Recognizing bulimia nervosa symptoms in teenagers
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a dangerous eating disorder that affects people of all ages, but the condition can...
Do I have anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder that may manifest differently in different people and can...
Do I have binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious mental health condition that involves frequent episodes of someone...
Do I have ARFID?
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a serious mental health condition that involves a...
Bulimia treatment at home
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating and purging, with these...
Anorexia home treatment
Treating anorexia nervosa (AN) is often a tricky prospect. While weight restoration and recovery from this...
Within Summit Q&A with Kevin Hines: The power of lived experience
Many people have said this story saved or changed their lives. People recognize they too can overcome...
Eating disorder support groups: Finding healing in community
Eating disorders like binge eating disorder (BED), anorexia nervosa (AN), and bulimia nervosa (BN), can be...
Within Summit Author round-up
Looking to deepen your wisdom from the Within Summit? Speakers from this year and last year’s Summit share...
Within Summit Q&A with Dr. Luana Marques: Understanding avoidance
I grew up in Brazil with a single mother, and moved in with my grandmother at 15. I faced a lot of adversity..
Within Summit Q&A with Dr. Kate Truitt: The power of gentle, soothing touch
Anybody can learn the self-havening protocols, which involve different kinds of gentle, soothing touch, and...
Within Summit Q&A with Eric Wood: Envisioning a new model for college campus counseling
The trauma of the pandemic has definitely contributed to the increased need for mental health services...
Emotion-focused therapy for eating disorders
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT), sometimes called emotionally-focused therapy, is a type of therapy that...
Experiential therapy for eating disorders
Experiential therapy is a form of insight-driven or action-based therapy that immerses a patient in an...
Comparing the different levels of care in eating disorder treatment
While all eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, eating disorder symptoms may present at...
What is fatphobia?
In a world that's long been deeply influenced by the ideals of diet culture, people with certain body...
Different types of hunger
Hunger is a complex and multifaceted physical sensation that is felt in the body. Understanding the types...
The devastating effects of fat shaming
Some biases around weight have become so deeply ingrained in society that they’ve almost become invisible...
What is weight restoration?
Weight restoration refers to the process of returning to a healthier body weight after experiencing weight...
Can a therapist diagnose an eating disorder?
Struggling with an undiagnosed eating disorder is often a difficult thing to talk about. Even if you're...
How to stop "overeating"
From holidays and celebrations to special occasions, many people indulge in eating a bigger meal than...
How to be a supportive partner when dating someone with bulimia nervosa
A strong support system is one of the most important tools a person can have when recovering from an eating...
Bulimia self-help recovery
Like other eating disorders, bulimia nervosa (BN) has the power to significantly affect a person’s life and...
What is hyperphagia?
People with hyperphagia have an elevated, uncontrollable, and prolonged appetite for food, which usually...
Featured articles
What is health at every size?
Health at Every Size (HAES) is an alternative approach to healthcare that proposes...
What is exercise addiction?
There’s no doubt that our bodies require regular movement to function at their healthiest level. But it is...
Therapy for eating disorders
Overcoming an eating disorder can be a long and challenging journey. But there are many types of therapy...
The importance of family during eating disorder recovery
Eating disorders and family may not seem to go together. But the involvement of family and loved ones in...
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Anorexia
Do I have anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder that may manifest differently in different people and can...
Self-help for anorexia nervosa
With its ability to significantly impact a person's psychological and physical health, anorexia nervosa...
What causes anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a very serious eating disorder, second only to opioid use as the...
What are the long term effects of anorexia nervosa?
In individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN), some may experience its effects in the...
The dangers of anorexiant diet pills
Anorexiant diet pills have increased dangers for those with an eating disorder. There...
Signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious illness that may manifest in several ways...
Is anorexia a disease?
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is not a disease. A disease is when there is a harmful change in...
Anorexia nervosa statistics: gender, race and socioeconomics
When examining anorexia statistics, or eating disorder rates in general, the results...
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Binge eating disorder
Why am I eating so much?
Anyone can have a complicated relationship with food, particularly in American culture...
What causes binge eating disorder?
Since it was first officially recognized in 2013, binge eating disorder (BED) has...
Understanding the connection of dopamine and binge eating
Binge eating behaviors are a major aspect of several eating disorders, including binge eating disorder...
Signs and symptoms of binge eating disorder
The prevalence of binge eating disorder (BED) is on the rise in the US, with an...
BED of low frequency and/or limited duration
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United...
What is binge eating disorder (BED)?
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States...
Binge eating disorder related to food insecurity
There are many known risk factors for eating disorders, such as a history...
Binge eating disorder and the trauma of weight stigma
Someone who is struggling with binge eating disorder experiences recurring...
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Body image
10 body image affirmations
Eating disorders are often recognized by their physical symptoms, but some of the most harmful aspects of...
Unrealistic beauty standards and body dysmorphic disorder treatment
Over the last 100 years, the notion of what qualifies as attractive has varied...
How to deal with and overcome body insecurity
Your body image is how you see your own body, and how you feel about what you perceive...
The racist history of fatphobia and weight stigma
Fatphobia and weight stigma are insidious forces in our society. Fatphobia...
The devastating effects of Instagram and body image
A recent study has revealed that social media apps, such as Instagram and...
Improving your body image in bulimia recovery
Improving body image is one of many individuals’ most challenging parts of bulimia...
How gender dysphoria affects body image
Gender presentation, identity, and body image are inherently linked. This...
Healthism: When a focus on healthy living becomes problematic
Healthism refers to a set of attitudes and beliefs that health is the most...
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Bulimia
What is non-purging bulimia?
Non-purging bulimia is a type of bulimia nervosa (BN) in which excessive exercise...
What causes bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious eating disorder that has many different causes, which...
Signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental health disorder, but the condition is often marked by a number of...
How to tell your loved ones you have bulimia
Telling your loved ones or family members that you struggle with bulimia nervosa (BN) can be a terrifying...
How to talk about bulimia nervosa
When you’re living with an eating disorder, like bulimia nervosa (BN), you can get...
How to stop bulimia
Bulimia nervosa is a complex eating disorder that often comes with feelings of...
What is bulimia nervosa (BN)?
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that affects between 0.5% and 1.5% of...
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Eating disorders
What are the different types of eating disorders?
There are many different types of eating disorders, each with its own unique set of challenges in treatment.
Unpacking the fear of eating in front of others
For many of us, sharing meals with others or going out to eat are the primary ways...
The differences between bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa (BN) and anorexia nervosa (AN) are two of the most well-known eating disorders, but many...
Bulimia vs binge eating: the differences between eating disorders
Bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED) are two different eating disorders...
What causes an eating disorder: A biopsychosocial perspective
Eating disorders are complex and severe psychiatric illnesses that can have many causes. The biopsychosocial..
Signs a loved one may be at risk of an eating disorder relapse
Recovery is a lifelong process for those who have struggled or...
8 eating disorder myths
Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED) are...
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Anorexia issues
Do I have anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder that may manifest differently in different people and can...
Why does anorexia bloating occur?
While not an official medical term, “anorexia bloating” can be used to describe bloating that occurs as a...
Anorexia and bruising: signs, causes and healing
Bruising in the body results from outside pressure to the skin and tissue, such as a...
What are the effects of anorexia on teeth and oral health?
Anorexia nervosa (AN) may be a mental health disorder, but it can have a number of physical consequences...
Mental health and physical medical complications of anorexia nervosa
Individuals struggling with anorexia nervosa (AN) are in danger of developing a...
Yellow skin in anorexia nervosa: Jaundice symptoms
Anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and other eating disorders affect more than someone's mental...
How anorexia affects hands: cold, shaking, tingling and discolored fingernails
You may not realize that the eating disorder anorexia nervosa (AN) can affect every part of the human body...
Does anorexia cause parotid gland swelling?
Anorexia nervosa (AN) does cause parotid gland swelling, particularly if AN is...
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BED issues
What is binge eating, and how does it affect the body?
Binge eating is when a person eats a large amount of food quickly in one sitting...
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Bulimia issues
What is bulimia bloat?
Bulimia bloat is not a medical term, but it is frequently used to describe the distended (swollen) belly...
How bulimia can (permanently) affect your teeth
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious psychiatric disorder that involves frequent...
What are the complications of bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious eating disorder that can have a large impact on both mental and physical...
The relationship between bulimia, skin, and acne
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a mental health disorder, but the condition can also cause a number of physical...
Is there a relationship between bulimia, acid reflux, and GERD?
Acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are medical conditions involving the movement of...
Is hair loss a symptom of bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that can lead to many medical comp...
How bulimia affects the jaw: pain and swelling problems
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that affects many parts of the body, incl...
How bulimia affects your period
Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), binge eating disorder (BED), and bulimia nervosa (BN) may...
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Co-occurring disorders
How to stop anxiety eating
If you turn to food when you’re feeling stressed or anxious, you’re not...
Understanding depression and eating disorders
When someone enters treatment for an eating disorder, it is important they receive...
Treating ARFID and autism
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder that involves extreme picky eating...
The relationship between anxiety, depression, and overeating
Food is one of the most essential aspects of life, not only needed for survival, but involved deeply in...
The relationship between anorexia nervosa and anxiety disorders
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder in which individuals are concerned about...
The relationship between ADHD and binge eating disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and binge eating disorder (BED)...
How does OCD and eating disorders interact
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders are two distinctive conditions...
Food aversion and OCD
When we think of eating disorders, we often imagine someone who has anorexia nervosa...
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How to help
Women's eating disorder treatment
Women are statistically the most affected demographic when it comes to eating...
Treatment of eating disorder in teen girls
Eating disorders are serious conditions that can affect anyone at any age. How...
Eating disorder treatment programs for male teens
Eating disorders can be very distressing for teen boys, and may have detr...
Eating disorder treatment programs for men
Men are affected by eating disorders like any other gender. Millions of men struggle...
Eating disorder treatment programs for LGBTQIA+ people
Clinicians and researchers have long been aware of the occurrence of eating disorders, but studies on the...
How to help a friend with an eating disorder
If you're having the thought, "I think my friend has an eating disorder," but aren't sure what to do about...
Eating disorder treatment programs for children
Eating disorders among children are very serious, and can be potentially life...
How to help someone with an eating disorder
If you know someone who's struggling with an eating disorder, you may feel an array of emotions, from...
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Nutrition counseling
What is diet culture?
You’ve probably heard of the term “diet culture” if you’ve spent any time immersed in...
Nutrition counseling in the treatment of eating disorders
Nutrition counseling, also referred to as nutritional counseling, food counseling, or nutrition therapy...
Learning the intuitive eating principles
Intuitive eating is an approach to eating based on responding to the body’s...
Is it bad to eat at night?
You might have heard that it’s somehow harmful to eat late at night. Diet culture...
Why we should avoid labeling food as good or bad
Have you ever referred to certain foods as “bad” or “good?” Maybe you say things...
What is intuitive eating?
Intuitive eating is an eating practice that involves listening to your body’s hunger...
Strategies for grocery shopping in eating disorder recovery
After you’ve finished a higher level of care like inpatient eating...
Is intermittent fasting disordered eating?
Intermittent fasting is a relatively popular diet regimen involving periods of...
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OSFED
What causes atypical anorexia nervosa?
Atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) is a serious eating disorder that shares many of...
Signs and symptoms of atypical bulimia nervosa
The signs and symptoms of atypical bulimia nervosa (ABN) are similar to those...
Atypical anorexia nervosa symptoms
Atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) shares many of the same characteristics as anorexia...
What is purging disorder?
Purging disorder is an eating disorder that involves purging to lose weight or change...
What is night eating syndrome?
Night eating syndrome (NES) is a sleep-related eating disorder where a person eats more food at night than...
How to stop eating at night
Everyone has the occasional late-night dinner or midnight snack, but for some people, overeating at night...
What is atypical anorexia nervosa?
While atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) may share characteristics of anorexia nervosa...
What is atypical bulimia nervosa?
Atypical bulimia nervosa (ABN) is a form of bulimia nervosa (BN) that affects...
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Self help
Self-help for anorexia nervosa
With its ability to significantly impact a person's psychological and physical health, anorexia nervosa...
Self-help and eating disorder treatment
Human resolve can be a formidable force in any endeavor. Recovering from an...
Why you should ditch the “new year, new you” mentality
It’s that time of year again. Everyone is making New Year’s resolutions, even...
How to thrive during the holidays while recovering from an eating disorder
The holidays are just around the corner, and given the rollout of vaccines...
How to overcome shame in eating disorder recovery
Shame is extremely common among people struggling with eating disorders...
How to shop for clothes in eating disorder recovery
It’s natural to gain or lose some weight during eating disorder treatment as...
Can you exercise during eating disorder recovery?
Exercise is a great way to promote physical, mental, and emotional well...
Can gardening aid in eating disorder recovery?
Professionally guided gardening, or horticultural therapy, is a type of therapy...
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Therapy
Emotion-focused therapy for eating disorders
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT), sometimes called emotionally-focused therapy, is a type of therapy that...
Experiential therapy for eating disorders
Experiential therapy is a form of insight-driven or action-based therapy that immerses a patient in an...
Using radically open dialectical behavior therapy to treat eating disorders
Treating eating disorders is often challenging, but radically open dialectical behavior therapy (RO DBT)...
Exposure therapy for eating disorders
Exposure therapy is a type of therapy used to treat eating disorders, phobias, and anxiety. It is typically...
Self-help and eating disorder treatment
Human resolve can be a formidable force in any endeavor. Recovering from an...
Medical nutrition therapy for eating disorder recovery
Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is an evidence-based treatment option for eating...
Group therapy for eating disorder treatment
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that have deep impacts on many people. By some...
Family-based therapy for treating eating disorders
Family therapy, sometimes called family-based therapy (FBT), is an umbrella term for a group of therapy...
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Treatment
Eating disorder support groups: Finding healing in community
Eating disorders like binge eating disorder (BED), anorexia nervosa (AN), and bulimia nervosa (BN), can be...
Emotion-focused therapy for eating disorders
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT), sometimes called emotionally-focused therapy, is a type of therapy that...
Experiential therapy for eating disorders
Experiential therapy is a form of insight-driven or action-based therapy that immerses a patient in an...
How to choose the best eating disorder treatment program for your needs
When it comes to choosing an eating disorder treatment program, people’s specific needs may vary. A program...
Learn about eating disorder treatment
There’s a reason people refer to eating disorder recovery as a journey. The path to getting well is...
Exercise addiction treatment & recovery
Exercise addiction is an eating disorder that can do serious damage to the body, with up...
Night eating syndrome treatment
Night eating syndrome (NES) is a highly disruptive eating disorder affecting as many as...
Treatment of pregorexia, pregnancy-related eating disorders
Pregnancy-related eating disorders, also called pregorexia, encompass any eating disorders...
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UFED
Unspecified feeding or eating disorders (UFED)
UFED stands for unspecified feeding and eating disorder. This diagnosis applies...
What is rumination disorder?
Rumination disorder, also referred to as rumination syndrome, is a rare and...
Chew and spit disorder (CHSP)
While some people with eating disorders strictly limit their food intake, and others struggle with...