Every year, thousands of teens (and adults, too) develop eating
disorders and eating disordered behaviors. In our image-obsessed
culture, it can be easy to become critical of our bodies.
Everyday concerns about healthy eating and weight management can
cross the line and become eating disorders. This happens when
someone starts to do things that are physically and emotionally
unsafe — things that could have long-term health consequences.
Some people go on extreme diets and can develop anorexia. Others
may go on eating binges (overeat to excess, known as "binge
eating"). And others may purge their bodies of the food they've
just eaten through forced compulsive exercise, inducing
vomiting, taking laxatives, or a combination of these (known as
bulimia). Although eating disorders are much more common in
girls, guys can get them, too. So how do you know if a friend
has an eating disorder? It can be hard to tell — after all,
someone who has lost a lot of weight or feels constantly tired
may have another type of heal