An eating disorder, or ED, is a mental health condition that causes an unhealthy relationship with food. Anyone can have an ED, many times without realizing it or getting a proper diagnosis. Research shows that 9 percent of people in the U.S. will have an ED in their lifetime.
Read on to learn about the types of EDs, how they’re diagnosed and treated, what barriers to care some people with EDs face, and how to find providers who can help.
What are the types and symptoms of eating disorders?
- Anorexia: Restricting food intake, fearing weight gain, and having a distorted self-image.
- Bulimia: Binging, or eating a large amount of food at once, followed by purging, or getting rid of the food by vomiting, taking laxatives, or over-exercising.
- Binge eating disorder: Repeatedly eating a large amount of food, followed by feelings of guilt and regret without purging.
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Not getting enough nutrients due to a lack of interest in food or disliking many types of food.
Some people may have symptoms of multiple EDs at the same time or cycle between different types of EDs.
Who is at risk of developing an eating disorder?
“Eating disorders don’t discriminate, they can affect anyone regardless of age,” said U.K. psychotherapist Kerrie Jones, who specializes in ED treatment, in a Women’s Health article.
While anyone can develop an ED at any time, some factors may increase your risk:
- Having a family member with an ED.
- Having another mental health condition, like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Having a history of dieting, weight loss attempts, or body-related bullying.
- Experiencing a major life change, like moving or starting a new job.
What are some warning signs that you might have an eating disorder?
“A focus on ‘healthy’ eating or nutrition can become a red flag for disordered eating when it becomes obsessive, rigid, or interferes with daily life,” Jones said. “If someone is labelling food as good or bad, with no flexibility or they are avoiding social situations such as going out for dinner with loved ones, or they are spending excessive time thinking about food, meal planning and avoiding ultra-processed food, it’s worth speaking to a professional.”
Other ED warning signs may include:
- Feeling preoccupied with food, counting calories, avoiding certain foods or food groups, or changes in weight.
- Eating in secret.
- Feeling preoccupied with your body size or shape.
If you think you may have an ED, talk to a health care provider. Your provider will likely ask questions about your eating and exercise habits and run tests to see if your ED is causing health problems.
What are the physical consequences of eating disorders?
EDs can cause deadly health problems. In fact, approximately one person in the U.S. dies from an ED every hour. Some short- and long-term consequences from EDs include:
- Heart problems
- Digestive problems
- Low blood pressure
- Dehydration
- Brittle bones
- Organ and tooth damage
- Stroke
- Infertility
How are eating disorders treated?
Treatment for EDs depends on the severity of your symptoms and your health risks. It may include a combination of therapy, medications to treat underlying mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, and nutrition counseling.
While some people may only need therapy once a week, others may require intensive outpatient therapy—which includes multiple therapy sessions per week—or inpatient treatment.
What barriers to treatment do people with eating disorders face?
Weight stigma
People of all body sizes can have EDs. Less than 6 percent of people with EDs are considered underweight, and research shows that higher-weight individuals are more likely to experience delays in ED diagnosis and treatment. Health care providers may be less likely to notice ED symptoms in higher-weight patients or may even reinforce a patient’s ED behaviors by commenting on their weight or praising weight loss.
“If you’re leaving the appointment feeling any type of shame or discomfort or guilt about eating or your body, that’s a clue that something went wrong,” registered dietitian Marlena Tanner said in a Fortune article. “You never have to continue with a provider that is damaging.”
If your care team is not taking your ED symptoms seriously due to your body size, you can find health care providers, therapists, and dietitians through the Health at Every Size Professionals Listing.
Racial bias
Media representing EDs typically focuses on white women, and research shows that health care providers may be less likely to diagnose people of color—particularly Black women—with an ED. Additionally, people of color may struggle to find culturally competent care. Across disciplines, 73 percent of ED care providers are white.
“Some therapists and dietitians focus on working with [Black, Indigenous, and people of color] clients and understand how racism, cultural expectations, and body image intersect,” says Paula Edwards-Gayfield, an Oklahoma City-based therapist and clinical advisor for the National Eating Disorders Association, to Public Good News. “Seek out providers who talk about cultural identity, anti-racism, or social justice in their work. There are also groups and nonprofit organizations that may help fill the gaps left by traditional treatment centers.”
If you’re a person of color seeking care at an ED treatment center, Edwards-Gayfield recommends asking the following questions:
- Does the center have a diverse staff?
- Do they talk about race, culture, or identity in treatment?
- Can you meet with someone who understands your background?
Gender bias
A 2019 study found that men and boys make up one-third of people with EDs, yet many go undiagnosed.
“There was such a lack of awareness for a long time, and often men were more likely to be diagnosed with depression or something else versus an eating disorder because there has been this really inaccurate mindset that men don’t get eating disorders,” said Tiffany Brown, psychology professor at Auburn University and co-director of the Auburn Eating Disorders Clinic, in a 2024 American Psychological Association article.
Men and boys may also experience symptoms that don’t match typical ED diagnostic criteria, such as a preoccupation with having a muscular physique. If you’re overwhelmed with thoughts about food or body image, talk to a health care provider, even if you’re not sure if you have an ED.
While LGBTQ+ individuals experience higher rates of EDs compared to their straight, cisgender peers, many struggle to access LGBTQ-informed ED treatment, especially transgender people.
“The reality is that most medical trainings, administrative processes, and social discussions and understandings of bodies, gender, health, reproduction, and privacy are based on the erasure of transgender and intersex people, and bodies, creating a large gap in understanding them medically, and socially, for many providers,” members of the trans-led collective Fighting Eating Disorders in Underrepresented Populations (FEDUP) tell PGN.
Trans people are also more likely to face financial burdens that can prevent them from accessing ED care. FEDUP connects low-income trans people with EDs to dietitians who offer sliding scale appointments. The collective also maintains a list of trans-affirming ED treatment providers and hosts free, virtual, peer-led support groups for LGBTQ+ people with EDs.
Cost
“Eating disorder treatment is often out of pocket, geographically inaccessible, and time intensive,” says Edwards-Gayfield. “Furthermore, insurance often denies coverage for individuals who don’t meet strict weight or symptom thresholds, reinforcing a system that privileges a narrow presentation of disordered eating.”
If you’re uninsured, are struggling to pay for ED treatment, or don’t know how to find care, reach out to Project HEAL’s Treatment Access Program, which connects people with EDs to no-cost and sliding scale treatment, cash assistance, and insurance help.
NEDA also offers a list of free, virtual support groups.
For more information, talk to your health care provider.
If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm or is anxious, depressed, or upset or needs to talk, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. For international resources, here is a good place to begin.