Eating disorders are complex life-threatening illnesses. Cultural influences are significant including society's strong emphasis on thinness—a bias often intensified by the media.

There are many people who repeatedly compare themselves to unattainable ideals. This leads to immense body dissatisfaction along with biological and physiological vulnerabilities towards eating disorders.

Compulsive behaviors can reveal themselves in intense preoccupation with weight and body image coupled with compulsive or excessive exercising which may eventually lead to feelings of irritability, loneliness and despair.

Abnormal eating habits can develop into severe dieting, with a preference for unusual foods, isolation or unusual behaviors at mealtime, or secretive bingeing. Often self-induced vomiting, periods of fasting or laxative, and diet pill or diuretic abuse are common warning signs of an eating disorder.

Once an eating disorder is full-blown, the recovery process can be difficult, with both emotional and physiological implications of prolonged neglect. Medical complications may ultimately affect every organ system of the body including metabolic, gastrointestinal, cardiac, and neurological, and can cause serious damage.