Center for Young Women's Health

What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are complex medical and psychiatric illnesses that affect a person’s physical and mental health, involving intense emotions and disordered behaviors related to food. These … read more

Causes There are many theories about what causes eating disorders. There is rarely one cause; most eating disorders are caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.  Sometimes … read more

A “health consequence” is a general term for the many negative physical and mental health changes that can result from disordered eating. Some of the dangers may be specific to … read more

Young people with eating disorder behaviors or symptoms are generally referred to an eating disorder program by their pediatrician, family doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. As a parent, it’s … read more

The Treatment Team Eating disorders are both medical and psychological conditions. Therefore, treatment usually includes working with a team of specialists including: a medical doctor or nurse practitioner, licensed therapist, … read more

Because an eating disorder is both a medical and psychological condition, most people meet with a licensed therapist as part of treatment. Although some families worry about stigma attached to … read more

Eating nutritionally balanced meals and snacks is important for everyone’s mind and body. During the recovery process from an eating disorder, your child will work with a registered dietitian to … read more

Young people are constantly exposed to unrealistic standards in the media, such as airbrushed images, skinny models, and overly muscular models, and thus may feel pressure to lose weight or … read more