Eating Disorders Information for Teens, 5th Ed.

There are many misconceptions in our society about what causes eating disorders. Eating disorders are rarely about food or wanting to be thin. Some people think that what they eat and exercising are important components of  healthy lifestyles. For others, however, these concerns become extreme. Some of them develop serious disruptions in eating patterns, become fixated on food worries, and experience severe distress about body weight and shape. These obsessions are characteristic of eating disorders. Eating disorders involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors involving weight and food. The lifetime prevalence of eating disorders was 2.7 percent. Less than 6 percent of people with eating disorders are medically diagnosed as underweight. The most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other disorders. Based on research, median age of onset was 21 years-old for binge eating disorder and 18 years-old for both bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. A combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors contribute to an eating disorder developing in a person. The disorder touches all different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, and all different ages. Females are more likely to get eating disorders than males, but statistics on the prevalence of eating disorders in the United States can vary widely.

Eating Disorders Information For Teens, Fifth Edition, discusses the differences between healthy eating patterns and anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating syndrome, emotional eating, orthorexia, pica, and other eating disorders. It explains how to recognize eating disorders, how they are diagnosed, the types of treatment available, and guidelines for relapse prevention. Facts about medical consequences, co-occurring conditions, and other diseases that may be complicated by an eating disorder are also included. A special section reports on healthy weight management and exercise plans. The book concludes with directories of resources for additional information about eating disorders, nutrition, and fitness.