Current challenges in recognizing and treating eating disorders.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are serious, life-threatening illnesses that often require several years of treatment. Although classified as mental health diagnoses, they are associated with significant medical consequences and have the highest rate of premature death of any mental health diagnosis. They also are associated with the highest rate of short- and long-term physiological complications. Eating disorders disproportionately affect young women. With early intervention and aggressive treatment, affected adolescents and young adults can recover and be free of the disorder. This article reviews the difficulties in recognizing that a patient has an eating disorder and the signs and symptoms providers should look for. It also discusses our current understanding of the causes of eating disorders as well as current treatment methods, which involve a multidisciplinary approach.