About 90 percent of people with eating disorders are women. Eating disorders can be very serious; untreated, they can be life-threatening. There are three basic types of eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating. Eating disorders are more prevalent in western society than in other parts of the world, and many believe it is due to our media, which places such emphasis on being thin, and equates thinness with beauty. Anorexia refers to the disorder in which one restricts food. In addition to restricting food intake, anorexics may exercise obsessively. They are burning far more calories than they take in. Their calorie intake is not enough to support normal body functioning. About ten percent of the people diagnosed with anorexia actually die from the condition. People with anorexia tend to have distorted body images. They believe they are much heavier than they really are. That is not always the case, however. There are other reasons they may restrict food. Studies suggest most anorexics have a history of child abuse and that this is a contributing factor to their illness. Anorexia causes damage to the heart, muscles, and kidneys. It can cause osteoporosis. It weakens the immune system. There are changes in brain function and even in brain structure. Women with anorexia usually stop menstruating as they lose too much body weight. Anorexics often withdraw from social situations due to fatigue and self-consciousness about their appearance and eating habits. Bulimia is an eating disorder in which one eats but then “purges” by vomiting up the food. People with bulimia may also abuse laxatives so that food moves through their digestive systems faster, therefore not being absorbed fully by their system. They may or may not “binge” before purging. Bulimics suffer many of the same health risks of anorexics, depending on how often they vomit their food. They also suffer damage to their teeth and their esophagus due to the acidic content of vomit. They may also develop ulcers. Most often, bulimics maintain normal weight by vomiting only after binging. Sometimes instead of vomiting, they may exercise excessively or fast for a period of time to counteract the amount of food they ate. This is rather rare, though. Compulsive overeating is an eating disorder at the other end of the spectrum. Compulsive overeaters have an overwhelming compulsion to eat, even when they are not hungry or after they are full. They often overeat for emotional reasons; food is used as a “comforter.” Compulsive overeating is often not recognized as an eating disorder in our society, but it is just that, and can be very serious. The risks of obesity are well known. Those who have problems with binge eating suffer from heart problems, high blood pressure, arthritis, high cholesterol, diabetes, and breathing problems. They also experience feelings of embarrassment and shame in social situations. All eating disorders have serious health risks and should be taken seriously. Eating disorders treatment - including eating disorder treatment centers or mental health counseling - is often needed.