Anorexia nervosa and bulimia: incidence and diagnosis.

The incidence of eating disorders is increasing at an alarming rate. The clinician who sees many female teenagers and young women in the course of practice is a prime candidate for identifying and providing early diagnosis and communication with the anorexic or bulimic client. Vigilance when assessing the client's physical, psychological, personal and family-history status will increase case-finding for eating disorders at an earlier point in the disease.