Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating habits that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health.

What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are a type of serious mental health condition characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions.

Is Anorexia a Metabolic Disorder?

Diagnostic Criteria for Orthorexia

What is a Binge-Eating Disorder?

What is Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?

See more featured articles »

What Causes Binge Eating Disorder?

Bulimia Nervosa Signs and Symptoms

What Does a Diagnosis of Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) Mean?

Managing Indigestion (Dyspepsia)

Health Risks of Binge Eating Disorder

Binge-Eating Disorder Signs and Symptoms

Anorexia Nervosa Signs and Symptoms

Uncommon Causes for Indigestion

Night Eating Disorder / Syndrome

Epidemiology of Orthorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa Complications

What is Rumination Disorder / Syndrome?

Lifestyle Changes for Indigestion (Dyspepsia)

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

Signs and Symptoms of Orthorexia

Binge-Eating Disorder Treatment

How is Anorexia Nervosa Diagnosed?

Latest Eating Disorders News and Research

Massive genetics study shows what truly separates and unites 14 psychiatric disorders

This large-scale genomic analysis of 14 psychiatric disorders shows that most heritable risk is shared across five broad genetic factors, with only limited disorder-specific variation. The study maps where risks converge or diverge biologically, revealing distinct cell type signatures and developmental pathways that may guide future diagnostic and therapeutic frameworks.

12 Dec 2025

Study reveals shared genetic roots across multiple psychiatric disorders

Distinct psychiatric disorders have more in common biologically than previously believed, according to the largest and most detailed analysis to date of how genes influence mental illness.

11 Dec 2025

Teenagers with body image issues may develop eating disorders and depression later

Teenagers who are unhappy with their bodies are more likely to develop symptoms of eating disorders and depression in early adulthood, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

11 Dec 2025

Shared genetic roots of 14 psychiatric disorders revealed

Researchers from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) report that most genetic influences on mental illness are shared across diagnostic categories, revealing a more interconnected biological landscape than traditional classifications suggest.

11 Dec 2025

Global study reveals massive hidden health burden from violence against women and children

Sexual violence against children and intimate partner violence against women are two of the most devastating yet persistently underrecognized global health challenges and rank among the top risks for mortality and morbidity worldwide, according to research published in The Lancet today.

9 Dec 2025

11 genetic loci that shape impulsive decision-making

Researchers identify distinct genetic loci involved in delay discounting and how these variants are involved in physical and psychiatric health outcomes.

3 Dec 2025

Maternal eating disorders linked to higher asthma and wheezing risks in children

Eating disorders in mums-to-be are linked to a heightened risk of asthma and wheezing in their children, irrespective of the type of disorder, presence of co-existing depression/anxiety, or the timing of their child's exposure, finds research published online in the journal Thorax.

2 Dec 2025

Brain recordings reveal why food cravings return despite tirzepatide

Researchers investigate the effects of tirzepatide on food preoccupation by influencing the brain’s mesolimbic circuitry.

1 Dec 2025

Ultrasound technique modifies human reward learning for the first time

The nucleus accumbens is a tiny element of the human brain triggered when we experience something enjoyable, and used to help us learn behaviours that lead to rewards.

27 Nov 2025

Study reveals the long-lasting health impacts of eating disorders

The health impacts of eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, are not only complex, affecting many different organ systems, but long-lasting, finds a large tracking study, published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine.

19 Nov 2025

Brain recordings reveal short-lived effects of tirzepatide on food cravings

A rare glimpse into the brain activity of a patient with obesity and loss of control eating on tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound, revealed that the medication suppresses signaling in the brain's "reward center" thought to be involved in food noise – but only temporarily.

17 Nov 2025

Recreational athletes feel healthy but unhappy with their bodies

New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has revealed a striking disconnect between how recreational athletes perceive their health and fitness, and how they feel about their bodies.

11 Nov 2025

Low-dose THC mitigates harmful side effects and inflammation caused by HIV treatment

Long-term, low doses of THC mitigate many harmful side effects and inflammation caused by HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to new research from Texas Biomedical Research Institute.

6 Nov 2025

Exploring the link between underweight status and gut microbiota composition in Japanese women

Low body weight in young women has been linked to a range of health concerns, including disrupted menstrual cycles, infertility, weakened immune function, and a long-term decline in bone density.

31 Oct 2025

Researchers discover how a brain circuit allows eating despite anxiety

How do mammals manage to eat in situations that cause anxiety, step into exposed spaces, or slow down when anxiety drives them to keep moving? A new study pinpoints a leptin-sensitive circuit in the lateral hypothalamus that helps to overcome anxiety to perform essential behaviors such as exploring, feeding, and limiting maladaptive hyperactivity.

21 Oct 2025

Germany launches new training to help doctors recognize eating disorders in men

The iSMEsH study aims to combat stigma around men's eating disorders, training healthcare providers to improve diagnosis and treatment in primary care settings.

14 Oct 2025

Who is really at risk of eating disorders? New UK study reveals overlooked groups

This large school-based study of over 7,400 UK adolescents found a high prevalence of eating disorder symptoms, particularly among girls, gender-diverse youth and those living in deprived areas. The findings challenge stereotypes, revealing that EDs significantly affect ethnic minority boys and economically disadvantaged groups.

13 Oct 2025

Parental teasing and criticism fuel body image issues later in life

Verbal influences from parents on weight are key predictors of body image dissatisfaction in children, surpassing the effects of observed behaviors.

8 Oct 2025

Clean eating trends on Instagram may subtly harm body satisfaction

Findings indicate foodie Instagram content supports mood, whereas clean eating posts may lead to lower body satisfaction and potential eating disorder risks.

24 Sep 2025

Climate change fuels spread of neurological virus in Europe

Growing numbers of West Nile virus infection cases, fueled by climate change, are sparking fears among citizens and healthcare providers in Europe. A Clinical Insight in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, published by Elsevier, aims to raise awareness and equip medical professionals with the knowledge needed to recognize and manage this emerging disease to avoid further spread and serious health consequences, especially for vulnerable individuals.

23 Sep 2025