Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are problems with a person's relationship to food and their body.

We all need to eat to have energy, to grow, and to stay healthy.

Some kids become very focused on the food they eat. Eating food can become a way to control bad feelings or to change how you feel about yourself.

These feelings and how you see yourself can become so painful that you can get sick and need the help of doctors.

When a kid can't eat enough food to stay healthy and grow, they may have a disease called bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder.

Sometimes, a person is very hungry and eats lots of food, but then feel so bad about it that they make the food come back up by vomiting. People who have this kind of eating problem may have a disease called bulimia.

Kids who are having problems with food like this can become very sick and need to go to the hospital.

Eating disorders are complicated diseases that need medical help. They are real illnesses and not a choice.

Kids with eating disorders must work hard to stay healthy and need the help of their family and friends, too.

Doctors and psychologists are looking for new ways to prevent and treat eating disorders.

The more we can understand about Eating disorders, the more we can help people who struggle with these challenging diseases.

If you think you may have problems related to eating food, know that you are not alone and that you can get help.

If you love someone with an Eating Disorder, please learn more about how you can support your friend or family member.