Having an Eating Disorder is much more than just being on a diet. An Eating Disorder is an illness that permiates all aspects of each sufferer's life, is caused by a variety of emotional factors and influences, and has profound effects on the people suffering and their loved ones.
It is estimated that 8 million Americans have an eating disorder – seven million women and one million men - and that one in five Americans suffers from mental illnesses. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and it is estimated that Anorexia is one of the most common chronic illness among adolescents.
It is important to understand that eating disorders are not about food and weight, which are but symptoms of something deeper going on, inside. There can be a variety of reasons and causes someone ends up with an eating disorder, from psychological to biological, from emotional to environmental. If you or a loved-one is suffering, it is important to seek help and to know you are not alone.
Eating Disorders
