Anorexia nervosa is when a person does not enough to stay at a healthy weight—he or she eats little or nothing. The person thinks he or she is “fat,” regardless of actual weight. Key signs: not eating, losing a lot of weight quickly, talking about being fat, exercising constantly

Bulimia is another disorder characterized by fear of getting fat. But a person with bulimia binges (eats a lot in a short period) and then purges (gets rid of the food, either by vomiting or using laxatives). Key signs: buying a lot of food or hiding food, spending a lot of time in the bathroom

Binge eating disorder is different than the other disorders, because it’s not usually about weight concerns. People with this disorder binge without purging. They may do this to try to escape negative feelings. Key signs: buying a lot of food or hiding food, gaining weight

Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it—not just stop eating because you think you should. Normal eating is being able to give some thought to your food selection so you get nutritious food, but not being so wary and restrictive that you miss out on enjoyable food. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good. Normal eating is mostly three meals a day, or four or five, or it can be choosing to munch along the way. It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful. Normal eating is overeating at times, feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. And it can be under eating at times and wishing you had more. Normal eating is being able to trust your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life.
In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your hunger, your schedule, your proximity to food and your feelings.

*Crowther et al., 1992; Fairburn et al., 1993; Gordon, 1990; Hoek, 1995; Shisslak et al., 1995

Bathing Ugly by Rebecca Bussell
Body Blues: Weight and Depression by Laura Weeldreyer
Extreme Elvin by Chris Lynch
The Fat Girl by Marily Sachs
Fat Chance by Leslea Newman
Food Fight: A Guide to Eating Disorders for Pre-Teens and Their Parents by Janet Bode
Hanged Man by Francesca Lia Block
How I Changed My Life by Todd Strasser
Hunger Scream by Ivy Ruckman
I Am an Artichoke by Lucy Frank
I Was A Fifteen-Year-Old Blimp by Patti Stren
Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
Kim: Empty Inside: The Diary Of An Anonymous Teenager by Beatrice Sparks
Life in the Fat Lane by Cherie Bennett
The New Improved Gretchen Hubbard by Ilene Cooper
One Fat Summer by Robert Lipsyte
Perk! The Story of a Teenager with Bulimia by Liza Hall
The Pig Out Blues by Jan Greenberg
Second Star to the Right by Deborah Hautzig
Slot Machine by Chris Lynch
Squashed by Joan Bauer
Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutchen
Starving to Win: Athletes and Eating Disorders by Eileen O’Brien
Stick Figure: A Diary of My Former Self by Lori Gottlieb

Bathing Ugly by Rebecca Bussell
Body Blues: Weight and Depression by Laura Weeldreyer
Extreme Elvin by Chris Lynch
The Fat Girl by Marily Sachs
Fat Chance by Leslea Newman
Food Fight: A Guide to Eating Disorders for Pre-Teens and Their Parents by Janet Bode
Hanged Man by Francesca Lia Block
How I Changed My Life by Todd Strasser
Hunger Scream by Ivy Ruckman
I Am an Artichoke by Lucy Frank
I Was A Fifteen-Year-Old Blimp by Patti Stren
Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
Kim: Empty Inside: The Diary Of An Anonymous Teenager by Beatrice Sparks
Life in the Fat Lane by Cherie Bennett
The New Improved Gretchen Hubbard by Ilene Cooper
One Fat Summer by Robert Lipsyte
Perk! The Story of a Teenager with Bulimia by Liza Hall
The Pig Out Blues by Jan Greenberg
Second Star to the Right by Deborah Hautzig
Slot Machine by Chris Lynch
Squashed by Joan Bauer
Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutchen
Starving to Win: Athletes and Eating Disorders by Eileen O’Brien
Stick Figure: A Diary of My Former Self by Lori Gottlieb

National Eating Disorders Association –
This site has some great fact sheets on eating disorders for girls, boys, friends, and parents. They have a great tool kit you can use as a parent or educator.

Austin Eating Disorders Specialists’ –
Their mission is to serve as an open forum for interdisciplinary professionals to gain and disseminate knowledge of eating disorders in an effort to provide exemplary treatment and to act as a cohesive resource within the community.

Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center –
Provides information and treatment help for all types of eating disorders.

PBS kids Go!, It’s my Life, Eating Disorders – Thin at all costs? –
site has video and stories form teens and mentors.