An eating disorder is a serious mental illness characterised by extreme concerns about weight, shape, eating and/or body image. These concerns lead to disordered and unhealthy patterns of behaviour, including restricting food intake, fasting, counting calories, vomiting, misuse of laxative use, and excessive or driven exercise. These behaviours can greatly affect a persons physical, psychological and social functioning. Approximately 9% of the Australian population suffer from an eating disorder, and can affect men and women of all ages, of all socio-economic backgrounds, and of all shapes and sizes. Five of the more common types of eating disorders recognised by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) are Bulimia Nervosa, Anorexia Nervosa, Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED), Binge Eating Disorder and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
(https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/What are Eating Disorders.pdf)
