Anorexia, Bulimia and Other Eating Disorders

• Because definitions of these common disorders are so specific, other manifestations of unhealthy eating habits can often elude definition, but are still considered disorders. These unique conditions are referred to as "EDNOS" (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified) within the medical community.

• To find statistics enumerating how many people suffer from these disorders, try entering a specific phrase like "eating disorder statistics" into your favorite search engine. Be warned, however, that such statistics vary widely from study to study and source to source, and for that reason we haven't included any specific statistics sites in this guide.

• Some of the Web sites recommended below have surveys you can take for determining your condition. Even if the official results of these do not indicate that you have a problem, it can be beneficial to consult a friend, trusted family member, or medical professional anyway; prevention is the best way to deal with an eating disorder.

• If you are trying to gauge your relationship with food by filling out any of the surveys at the sites below, consider doing it with a friend who will know if you're not answering questions honestly or realistically.

• As you are researching eating disorders, you may come across Web sites designed by the pro-ana movement. Many of these sites encourage eating-disordered individuals to continue their destructive behavior. If you are suspicious of the content on a site, stay away from it-sites designed to encourage eating disorders can have a very damaging effect on the recovery process.

• Try to confirm your suspicions before taking any action. One way to do this is by checking your loved one's behavior against any or all of the surveys found at the sites recommended in the "Identifying Eating Disorders" section. 

• Don't go it alone. Eating disorders can be such a sensitive subject that you're best off benefiting from the experience and training of a medical professional before you try to tackle the problem yourself.

• Some of the people who have helped a loved one through diagnosis and treatment keep blogs that detail the experience and offer advice to anyone else in the same boat. We recommend a few of the best below.

If you suspect a loved one has an eating disorder ...

• If you are suffering from an eating disorder, be sure to contact your general healthcare practitioner before you sign up for any treatments or seek specialized help. Your family doctor knows your full medical history and thus can be an invaluable resource during your treatment process. Visit the findingDulcinea Health Web Guide for advice on how to make the most of your doctor's visits.

• Most of the sites in the first section of this guide also discuss treatment-some of the best resources have been listed again below.
  

• Check your insurance providers' Web site for information on coverage. If you can't find the specific information you need, there will at least be contact information so you can ask your questions directly.

• Be very careful when searching the Web for eating disorder communities, as you might stumble upon the pro-ana movement, which helps individuals foster and encourage each other's disorders. Communities of like-minded people can be very persuasive, so be sure that those you're joining promote a healthy lifestyle rather than perpetuate unhealthy behavior.

• No matter how much help you can derive from an online community, it is essential that you seek medical advice from a trained professional if you are suffering from an eating disorder.