by Perlea, Victor ¹, Mayer, Gwendolyn ¹

• ¹ Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg

The introduction and overview can be found here

Disclaimer:We have compiled this information to the best of our knowledge based on current scientific literature (as of May 2026). However, we do not provide diagnosis or treatment recommendations. If you notice any mental health concerns in yourself or in a child or adolescent in your care, please consult a medical doctor.

Eating disorders include the three major types anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.

Anorexia nervosa is characterised by restrictive energy intake relative to requirements resulting in a significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health, a fear of gaining weight, despite being underweight, and a body image disturbance, disproportionate influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight (Kölch et al., 2020).

Bulimia nervosa consists in recurring episodes of large amount food intake and sense of lack of control as well as recurring inappropriate compensatory behaviour (e.g. vomiting, laxatives, exercise, diet pills). Both binge eating and compensatory behaviours occur, on average, at least once a week within a period of three months; additionally, self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight (Kölch et al. 2020).

Early intervention, family involvement, psychotherapy (CBT), and nutritional support are important for recovery.