Eating disorders

Eating disorders are common problems affecting 5–10% of young people. The bulimic forms of eating disorders became dominant in the last half of the twentieth century and are caused in part by the tensions between the easy availability of high-palatability food and a culture that idealizes thinness. Genetic factors, high anxiety and environment stress also contribute. Anorexia nervosa is associated with high levels of physical disability but problems also occur in social, vocational and parenting functioning. Psychological forms of treatment are effective. In the case of anorexia nervosa it is particularly helpful if the family are involved as they can be drawn into unhelpful patterns of interaction.