Eating disorders develop as outward signs of inner emotional or psychological distress or problems. They become the way that people cope with difficulties in their life. Eating, or not eating, is used to help block out painful feelings. Without appropriate help and treatment, eating problems may persist throughout life.
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by a loss of at least 15% body weight resulting from refusal to consume sufficient food, despite extreme hunger. The sufferer usually experiences a high disturbance of perception of body image. The anorexic may regard himself/herself as fat, overestim