Eating Disorders

Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) are mental illnesses, and while they are treatable,¹ have the highest mortality rate of any other mental illness in the United States.² An eating disorder is characterized by sustained periods of unhealthy dieting or eating, and can be accompanied by purging — by self-induced vomiting, or abuse of laxatives — or binge-eating.³ Nearly 30 million people — both men and women, of many ages — have an eating disorder in the United States.⁴