Eating disorders are characterised by an abnormal attitude towards food that causes someone to change their eating habits and behaviour. An eating disorder can affect anyone, at any age.
People who suffer from an eating disorder may use food to help them cope with stress or difficult situations. People may often do this without realising it. Similarly, people may also use food in order to stay in control of their life and their emotions. This may stop them from making realistic decisions about what they eat. In addition, how much they should eat.