Anorexia is a mental illness characterised by a dangerously low body weight, starving oneself, a huge fear of weightgain, body dysmorphia - seeing the body as much fatter than it really is, and missing periods from malnutrition. Anorexia is the most deadly psychiatric illness and has a low level of recovery. Anorexia is not just someone starving to lose weight.
Bulimia is another mental illness which is characterised by uncontrollably bingeing on huge amounts of food, going to extreme measures to prevent weight gain (such as vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas, fasting and exercise) and self-esteem that is affected directly by weight and body shape. Bulimia also has a low level of recovery, and is not just throwing up your meals to prevent getting fat (this is often an eating disorder - though not bulimia).
Eating disorders are not about wanting to be thin and pretty - they are covering up much more serious psychological issues, such as childhood sexual abuse, depression, severe anxiety, personality disorders, etc. They also don't start suddenly - they develop gradually over many months or years.
You don't want an eating disorder - trust us! It may seem with the huge number of proanorexic websites around that we actually love our eating disorders, but that's because our mind is warped by our illness, and because in a strange way it is comforting to distract ourselves from reality by concentrating completely on food and weight.
If you behave as though you have an eating disorder - by starving, bingeing, purgeing, taking laxatives, etc - it does not mean you have an eating disorder. Anyone can do these things - 1 in 4 college-age girls use inappropriate methods of weight-control such as these - but eating disorders are not that common.
If you want an eating disorder for reasons other than weightloss - we urge you to seek help, from parents, teachers, friends, doctors or therapists.
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