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Eating Disorders


More than 90 percent of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25

Between 5 and 20 percent of teens with anorexia will die because of the disorder

Children as young as 5 have been diagnosed with an eating disorder

About 10 percent of teens with anorexia are boys.

Teen boys with eating disorders often go undiagnosed and untreated

Studies show that people who suffer from an eating disorder may be at a greater risk
for attempting or completing suicide


What is an Eating Disorder?

An eating disorder is an obsession with food and weight, characterized by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and emotional health. People who have an eating disorder often go to extremes to keep from gaining weight. There are 3 main eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa (reducing calorie intake to an extreme degree), Bulimia (consuming a large amount of food in a short time, and then "purging" the food, by means of vomiting, taking laxatives, or excersizing excessively) and Compulsive Overeating. Some eating disorders are thought to stem from a traumatic event in a person's life; however, a person can develop an eating disorder even when no traumatic event has taken place. Studies have shown that people who suffer from an eating disorder may be at a greater risk for attempting or completing suicide than those who do not suffer from an eating disorder.


Harmful Effects of an Eating Disorder Include:


Warning Signs That You or a Loved One may Suffer From an Eating Disorder:


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