About Eating and Weight Disorders

Eating and weight disorders can affect females and males across the age spectrum. While obesity is a visible health issue, eating disorders often go undetected for long periods of time, compounding the risk that they might cause lasting damage. Determining whether you have or someone you love has a problem with food or weight is complicated by the fact that many people have clinically significant symptoms of an eating disorder without a full diagnosis. Although their symptoms may not reach the level of a full diagnosis, many individuals with a partial diagnosis experience symptoms that affect their functioning in school, at work, or at home, and are deserving of treatment. In fact, partial manifestations of eating disorders are more common than full diagnoses. Because certain symptoms, such as occasional purging, can eventually evolve into a full-blown eating disorder early intervention is key. Moreover, early identification and treatment of eating disorders is associated with a good chance at long-term recovery. Fortunately, there are effective treatments for various stages of illness, and one should never lose hope.