What is an eating disorder (ED)?

Eating disorders, or EDs, are serious mental illnesses that are directly related to a disorder of the food intake process and a distorted perception of one's own body. The most common forms include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, each of which poses a threat to a person's physical and psychological health.

The main signs of the disorder include a constant obsession with food, calorie counting, a panicky fear of certain products, as well as secretive overeating or strict restrictions. A person with an ED often assesses their worth solely through the number on the scale or the reflection in the mirror.

It is important to understand that an ED is not a whim, not a caprice, and not a matter of weak willpower, as people around often mistakenly believe. This is a deep psychological problem that affects biochemical processes in the brain and requires comprehensive treatment.

Attempts to cope with the disease on your own usually do not yield results, as the roots of the problem lie deep in the emotional sphere. Successful recovery requires professional help from an interdisciplinary team of specialists.

Psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and clinical dietitians must be involved in this process. Only the joint work of experts helps the patient restore a healthy relationship with food, regain control over their life, and eliminate the somatic consequences of the disease.