What are the signs of an eating disorder?

Significant weight loss or fluctuation, restrictive eating patterns, binge eating, purging (vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise), preoccupation with food/weight/body, and physical signs like fainting, hair loss, or menstrual changes. Eating disorders affect people of every body size.

How is an eating disorder treated?

Treatment usually combines medical monitoring (a doctor watching for serious complications), nutritional counseling (a dietitian rebuilding healthy eating patterns), and therapy (often family-based therapy for adolescents, or CBT-E or DBT for adults).

Eating Disorder Help & Treatment Resources

Eating disorders — anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and others — are serious medical and mental health conditions with the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. They are treatable, and treatment works best when started early.

If you or someone you love may have an eating disorder, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders runs a free clinician-staffed helpline: 1-866-662-1235 (Mon–Fri, 9am–7pm ET). Search 'Eating Disorders' in your state below to find specialized treatment clinics.

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Eating Disorder Help & Treatment Resources by state

Frequently asked questions

What are the signs of an eating disorder?: Significant weight loss or fluctuation, restrictive eating patterns, binge eating, purging (vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise), preoccupation with food/weight/body, and physical signs like fainting, hair loss, or menstrual changes. Eating disorders affect people of every body size.
How is an eating disorder treated?: Treatment usually combines medical monitoring (a doctor watching for serious complications), nutritional counseling (a dietitian rebuilding healthy eating patterns), and therapy (often family-based therapy for adolescents, or CBT-E or DBT for adults).