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Eating disorders are grouped into three categories:

• Anorexia nervosa: Refusing to maintain a minimally normal body weight, with or without bingeing and purging
• Bulimia nervosa: Bingeing and purging without weight loss
• Binge eating disorder: Bingeing without purging

Bingeing is the rapid consumption of a much larger amount of food than most people would eat in a similar time under similar circumstances. Binges are accompanied by a feeling of loss of control. Purging is self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives or enemas.

Eating disorders are more common among women, especially younger women, than among men.

Last full review/revision June 2008 by Albert J. Stunkard, MD