What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are serious medical illnesses that can be life-threatening. They are also extremely complex illnesses, arising from a variety of biological, psychological and social factors. Complete a free screening inventory here to assess your current situation.

​To understand the neurobiology of eating disorders, watch this video by Dr. Laura Hill from the Center for Balanced Living in Columbus. Dr. Hill's Ted Talk about Anorexia might also be helpful.

Watch a Crash Course video explaining different types of eating disorders and body image disturbances.

Food is the most challenging recovery to partake in because it is the one thing that we cannot abstain from. Learn more here about eating disorders.

What is Exercise Addiction?

• You judge a day as good or bad based on how much you exercise.
• You base your self-worth on how much you exercise.
• You never take a break from exercise, no matter how you feel or how inconvenient it is.
• You exercise even though you are injured.
• You exercise solely to influence your weight or shape.
• You arrange work and social obligations around workouts.
• You cancel family, school, work or social obligations to exercise.
• You become angry, anxious or agitated when something interferes with your workout.
• You sometimes wish you could stop, but you are unable to.
• You know others are worried about how much you exercise, but you do not listen to them.
• You always have to do more (laps, miles and weights) and rarely feel satisfied with what you have accomplished.
• You count how many calories you burn while exercising.
• You exercise to compensate for overeating.

What is Anorexia/Restriction?

• Inadequate food intake leading to a weight that is clearly too low.
• Intense fear of weight gain, obsession with weight and persistent behavior to prevent weight gain.

What is Bulimia/Purging?

• Frequent episodes of consuming very large amount of food followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise

What is a Binge-Eating Disorder?

• Frequent episodes of consuming very large amounts of food but without behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting.
• A feeling of being out of control during the binge eating episodes.
• Feelings of strong shame or guilt regarding the binge eating.

If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please reach out for help. We have a variety of therapists with experience to help you or your loved one get back on track to healthy living. Visit our provider directory, or call us at 614-360-2600. 
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