Eating disorders are abnormal eating habits that can be extreme and life-threatening. Typically, people suffering from an eating disorder are preoccupied with food and body weight.
This condition can be very complex and is often associated with psychiatric disorders like anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or drug abuse problems. The Aforementioned can have devastating personal effects with serious consequences on health, productivity, and relationships.
Adolescents and young women are among the highest risk demographic. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 2.7% of teenagers aged 13 to 18 years old struggle with some form of an eating disorder. If that statistic isn’t devastating enough, the seeds of these disorders can start much younger.
Approximately 40% to 60% of school girls aged 6-12 are concerned about their body image and weight, which may endure their entire lives. In today’s complex social structures these disorders often persist as a survival mechanism. Luckily, there are incredible treatment options available.
