What is an Eating Disorder? What are the signs and symptoms?
See our Signs of... page

What is Body Image?
See our page on body image

What Causes an Eating Disorder?
There are many theories about the cause of eating disorders including cultural influences, family patterns, psychological issues and biological components. Surprisingly, development of an eating disorder can be viewed as an attempt to solve a complex set of emotional and psychological difficulties. Often the person with an eating disorder is seeking security and self-protection in the only way they know. Because an eating disorder is a “solution”, no matter how dangerous or self-destructive, it is difficult to give up. A supportive intervention program that addresses the physical, behavioral, and emotional aspects of an eating disorder is essential for effective treatment.

How Can I Help a Friend?
See the WRRC's handout

Do Men Get Eating Disorders?
Just like girls and women, boys and men have disorder eating and negative body image, too. Many males describe themselves as compulsive eaters, and some may have binge eating disorder. There is no evidence to suggest that eating disorders in males are atypical or somehow different from the eating disorders experienced by females.

See our communties page for more resources for men.

How Do E.D.s Relate to Racial, Sexual,
Gender or Personal Identity?
The following articles explore the issue of community identity and the prevalence of eating disorders, they may take a moment to load:

> An Interview with Becky Thompson

>A Way Oughta No Way: Eating Disorders Among African-American, Latina, and White Women by B. W. Thompson

> Eating Disorders Among Women of Color:
Explanations and Implications (NEDA)

>The Role of Sexual Orientation and Gender-Related Traits in Disordered Eating (pdf scholary article)

> LGBT Health: Findings and Concerns (pdf scholary article)