Eating disorders: interactions between human nutrition research and food behaviours

Eating disorders traditionally regroup anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Presently, obesity is not considered as an eating disorder. Eating disorders occur most often in adolescent girls or young women; a global prevalence rate in this population is about 3%. In anorexia nervosa, mortality rate is high. Bio-psycho-social factors can explain the occurrence of eating disorders, among them: genetic predisposition, particular cognitive styles or social risk factors (prevalence rates are higher in industrialized societies). Multimodal therapies are essential, with an emphasis on psychotherapies. Hospitalisation may be sometimes necessary, especially in severe forms of anorexia nervosa.