Eating disorders

An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition. It involves strong, painful thoughts and feelings about food, eating and the body, and eating habits that harm a person's health. It is not a diet gone wrong, and it is not a choice or a sign of vanity.^1,4

Eating disorders can hurt the body, mood, work and family life. They can also be treated, and many people recover.³ This page gives the big picture and links to each topic. Getting help early makes a real difference.³

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is more than eating "too much" or "too little" now and then. It is a lasting pattern in which food and body thoughts take over daily life and cause distress or health problems.^1,3 Many people feel shame and hide it for years.

Experts believe several things add up to cause these illnesses. Genes, biology, personality, life experiences and the social world all play a part. No one thing is the cause, and no one is to blame.¹ Read more in causes and risk factors.

The main types

Some people have symptoms that fit more than one type or none exactly. They still deserve care. Our page on types of eating disorders explains each one, including other specified feeding or eating disorders, pica and rumination.

How common are eating disorders?

In a large U.S. survey of adults done in the early 2000s, about 0.6% had anorexia, 1.0% had bulimia and 2.8% had binge-eating disorder at some point in life. That is about 1 in 170, 1 in 100 and 1 in 36 adults.² Binge-eating disorder is the most common of the three.⁴

Women are affected more often than men. For anorexia, about 0.9% of women and 0.3% of men had it in their lifetime.² Even so, men and boys are often missed, because many people think of eating disorders as a women's problem and men are less likely to seek help.⁵

Among U.S. teens aged 13 to 18, about 2.7% (roughly 1 in 37) had an eating disorder at some point.² These surveys are old, and newer numbers may be different. Eating disorders often start in the teen years or young adult years, but they can begin in childhood or much later.⁴

Signs to notice

Warning signs can be about behavior, feelings or the body. A person may be very focused on food, weight or shape, skip meals, eat in secret, avoid eating with others, or pull away from friends. They may show guilt or shame about eating.^1,5

Some signs are easy to miss. People of any size can have an eating disorder, and a person can look "healthy" and still be very ill.¹ Read the full list in signs of an eating disorder.

Why they are serious

Eating disorders can harm the heart, bones, stomach, teeth and hormones.^5,10 They often occur alongside depression, anxiety or substance use, and they raise the risk of suicide.¹ Anorexia has the highest death rate of any mental health condition.⁴

This is why checkups matter. Some problems, such as heart rhythm changes, are not always felt by the person. See health effects and medical risks to learn when to go to the emergency room.

How treatment works

Treatment is shaped to the person and usually uses a team: a doctor, a therapist and a dietitian (a food and nutrition expert). Care can be outpatient, in a day program, or in a hospital or residential center for those who are very sick.^1,4

Fluoxetine and other antidepressants carry a warning about more suicidal thoughts in children, teens and young adults. Families should watch closely and tell the prescriber about any change.⁷ Lisdexamfetamine can be habit-forming and needs careful use.⁹ Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before changing anything. Our page on treatment for eating disorders has more.

Eating disorders in midlife and later life

Eating disorders are not only a young person's problem. One national group reports that about 2% to 7.7% of women aged 40 and older meet the criteria for an eating disorder. About 1 in 100 men do.¹⁰ Some people have lived with one for decades. Others develop one for the first time after a loss, an illness, menopause, retirement or other life change.¹⁰

Older bodies may handle the strain less well, and doctors do not always think to ask.¹⁰ Weight loss from an eating disorder can also look like depression, dementia or other illness. Read eating disorders in midlife and later life, depression in later life and eating and swallowing in dementia.

Supporting someone you love

You do not need the perfect words. Voice your concern kindly, say what you have seen, and avoid comments about food, weight or bodies. Help them find care, and look after yourself too. Read helping someone with an eating disorder and caregiver burnout.

All eating disorder topics

• Signs of an eating disorder
• Types of eating disorders
• Causes and risk factors
• Health effects and medical risks
• Treatment for eating disorders
• Helping someone with an eating disorder
• Eating disorders in midlife and later life

Related: depression and anxiety often come with eating disorders.³

In this section

When to get help

See a doctor if food or body worries are taking over your life, or if you notice signs in someone you love. A primary care doctor is a good first step. They can check your health and refer you to a psychologist, psychiatrist or clinical social worker.¹ You can also use our mental health check-in.

Where to find support

• National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline: (866) 662-1235. It is free and staffed by licensed therapists who specialize in eating disorders. As of October 2026, hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday.⁸
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 at any hour.³
• Find treatment: your doctor, NIMH's help pages and FindTreatment.gov can point you to local care.^1,3
• Peer support: NAMI offers family classes and recovery groups through local affiliates.⁵

Education only. This page is general information written from the sources listed. It is not medical, legal or financial advice and does not replace a doctor, therapist or lawyer who knows your situation. How we write and check pages.