h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Whilst the information provided on Anorexia and Bulimia seems to be accurate and well informed, these 2 disorders are not the only ones that fall into the eating disorder (ED) catagory.

There is Over-Eating, where people will 'comfort eat' or 'binge' without the purging behaviour that would usually follow if the person is Bulimic.

Also there is another condition call Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). This is the diagnosis given when eating behaviours do not fall into one of the above (or any other) ED's. When a person, for example shows symptoms of 2 or more types of disordered eating, they are usually given this diagnosis.

However, disordered eating is anything that falls outside the realms of what is considered 'normal' eating. So really, the number of people who would fall into the catagory of having an eating disorder is far greater when you consider that Anorexia and Bulimia aren't the only two illnesses that are part of this group of disorders.

I hope to see in the near future, greater awareness of ALL ED's, because too many people just aren't aware of the range of problems encountered by sufferers.

Hi there, and thanks for your comment.

I'd say the Binge Eating section covers Over-Eating reasonably well. As for the wide spectrum of so-called abnormal behaviours - EDNOS is the sort of diagnosis that mental health issues can often fall under. By its very definition, EDNOS covers things that don't otherwise fit into the DSM IV pigeon holes, thus it's rather difficult to cover in a short article. I would agree that some recognition and de-stigmatisation of mental health problems would likely help those who suffer from them.

Tufty