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Home Illness & Disability Mind Eating disorders

Eating disorders

Young women with physical disabilities sometimes also have eating disorders. Eating disorders involve serious problems with normal eating behaviors. They include:

• Anorexia nervosa (an-uh-REK-see-uh nur-VOH-suh), in which you don't eat enough because you think that you are fat when, in fact, you are much too thin
• Bulimia nervosa (boo-LEE-mee-uh nur-VOH-suh), involving periods of overeating followed by causing yourself to throw up or using laxatives to get rid of the food
• Binge eating, which is out-of-control eating

Eating disorders can damage your health, on top of the health issues you have already. Getting help early is important. If you think you may have an eating disorder, talk to your doctor.

Read more about Body image and eating disorders.

Content last updated April 6, 2009

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