Eating disorders are not a lifestyle choice and are very serious and sometimes fatal. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, eating disorders are "severe disturbances in peoples eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions." The three main types are anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder. Eating disorders can look like many different things and are not linear. For a long time eating disorders were not taken seriously, but the past decades have witnessed a spike in the disorders, forcing people to more readily acknowledge eating disorders and toxic beauty standards in the US. In a recent study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, it was found that 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner and that less than 6% of the people who have eating disorders are actually diagnosed as "underweight".

Treatment

When dealing with an eating disorder it's important to start treatment early; the longer it goes on, the greater the risk of medical complications and even suicidal thoughts. With eating disorders, it helps to create a treatment plan with a professional that is tailored to you. These can often include individual and group psychotherapy or "talk therapy". Nutrition counseling and medical care/monitoring are often necessary. Recovery from eating disorders is very possible and necessary to live a healthy life.