An eating disorder is when a person eats, or refuses to eat, in order to satisfy a psychological or emotional need rather than a physical need. The person doesn’t listen to bodily signals or perhaps is not even aware of them. A healthy person eats when hungry and stops eating when the body doesn’t need more.

People who have a distorted view of their bodies and how they look can be at risk for developing an eating disorder.

The two most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia. (However, there are other things people do to their bodies that are also dangerous, like take a lot of diet pills, exercise compulsively, overeat, etc.)

People with anorexia nervosa or “anorexia” become obsessed with how much food they eat. They may be rail thin, but when they look in the mirror, they think they’re fat. So, they diet until they are eating next to nothing.

Anorexics are often really stressed about other things in their lives, like school or a relationship. Whether they realize it or not, they feel that if they can control what they eat, they can control the other problems, too.

People with anorexia might take tons of diet pills, use laxatives without really needing them or stop eating altogether at certain times. They might also make themselves vomit, because they’re so afraid of gaining weight.

People who are bulimic gorge—stuff themselves with all kinds of food—and then vomit or take laxatives to get the food out of their bodies quickly. It’s called “binging and purging.” Bulimics often use food to calm emotions and feel better about themselves. It doesn’t work. Some people with anorexia will also go through phases when they are bulimic as well, and vice versa.

Eating disorders are caused by complex emotions, usually having to do with how people feel about themselves. Some think eating disorders are something a person can “just snap out of.” But that’s just not true.

People with eating disorders need counseling from mental health professionals who are specifically trained in these issues. They also need support from their families and friends. That support includes not judging the person, being patient and understanding as they work through their disease.

If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, please see the resources below. Also, talk with a trusted adult—a parent, teacher, school counselor, coach, neighbor or other relative, for example. Ask for help. Left untreated, eating disorders can kill.

For more information, check out the National Eating Disorders Association and the The Renfrew Center. You can also call The Renfrew Center at 1-800-REN-FREW (736-3739), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.