Anorexia Nervosa:    Anorexic individuals consider themselves fat no matter what their weight is.  Food is used to gain control because the individual feels out of control.  Anorectics are perfectionists.  10 - 20% of anorectics will kill themselves through excessive dieting behaviors.  Symptoms include noticeable weight loss, excessive exercise, amenorrhea (loss of menstruation), and obsession with calories.  Also use of diuretics and laxatives are problematic as well as excuses for not eating meals, especially with others.  Self-harm behaviors such as cutting, burning, and  hair-pulling, are some warning signs as well as self-imposed isolation.

Bulimia Nervosa:  Bulimic individuals binge eat and then purge by vomiting, exercise, or laxative/diuretic abuse.  Low self-esteem and feeling as if they 'do not fit' marks this pathology.  Food is used as a source of comfort.  Symptoms include secretive eating, bathroom visits after eating, isolation, tooth decay, gastrointestinal and heart problems..  Self-harm behaviors such as self-abuse and cutting may be prevalent.

Binge Eating Disorder:  Binge eaters consume large quantities of food until they are uncomfortably full.  Unlike Bulimia, binge eaters do not purge.  During an episode they feel out of control followed by shame or guilt afterwards.   Food is used as a way to block feelings.  Symptoms include weight gain, low self-esteem, fluctuations in weight or constantly going on different diets.

Compulsive Overeating:  Compulsive overeating is characterized by uncontrollable eating and weight gain.  It usually starts in childhood as a coping mechanism to block uncomfortable feelings.  Symptoms include depression, binge eating and withdrawal from activities because of embarrassment about being overweight.

Here are some important things you can do if you or someone you care about has an eating disorder:

•  Understand your Feelings:  When your eating is disordered, something is going on inside you that seems difficult to resolve.  Do your best to learn what the mood or feeling is so you can focus on resolving it rather than resorting to destructive measures.  

• Educate Yourself:  Look for books on websites or in the following recommended resource list to better understand the eating disorder behavior.

•  Commit to Recovering:  Recovering from an eating disorder requires a high degree of commitment.  It may involve medical supervision, working with a nutritionist, and individual and family therapy.  Eating Disorders can be fatal!
  
• Find the Right Therapist:  Look for a therapist with specific knowledge and training in eating disorders as well as someone who is warm, supportive and goal-oriented.  Always ask about availability, fees, if they accept your health  insurance, and how they approach problems such as yours.

Here is a Resource List of books on Eating Disorders.