an eating disorder
is marked by extremes. It is present
when a person experiences
severe disturbances in eating
behavior, such as extreme reduction
of food intake or extreme
overeating, or feelings of extreme
distress or concern about body
weight or shape.
A person with an eating disorder
may have started out just eating
smaller or larger amounts of
food than usual, but at some
point, the urge to eat less or
more spirals out of control.
Eating disorders are very
complex, and despite scientific
research to understand them,
the biological, behavioral and
social underpinnings of these
illnesses remain elusive.