What sort of disorder is an eating disorder?

Eating disorder: An eating disorder is characterized as "lack" of normal feelings of feeling full after a meal anorexia, typically starvation -can give a patient a felling of temporary "control" or success. Bulimia is reaction to overeating perhaps1000's of calories a day, feeling depressed, out of control, then purging-vomiting, taking laxatives to try to get rid of calories.Both conditions are very serious -deadly.

Brain disorder: Ed's, especially but not only anorexia nervosa, are brain disorders. Don't believe me? Dr tom insel, the head of the nimh, says so as well.

Psych and Medical: An ed can be thought of as a behavioral disorder and a cognitive disorder that has both significant emotional and physical ramifications. It is the one psychiatric diagnosis that has the greatest potential for medical complications across body systems. Eds also fall on a spectrum and are not homogeneous from one person to another. It is not a disorder of "choice" but rather is brain based.

Mind + body + heart: Although of several different types, eating disorders are united by a disturbed relationship with food. It might be restricting intake (anorexia); binging & purging (bulimia); or overeating without purging (binge eating d/o) -- but all of these come together in the person compulsively using food to deal with painful emotional issues rather than to nourish the body. All threaten life, too.