Anorexia nervosa (or simply anorexia) is an eating disorder that causes people to obsess about their weight and food.

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia have risen steadily to affect nearly 10 million women (and 1 million men).

Binge eating disorder is an illness that resembles bulimia nervosa and is characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing. It differs from bulimia because its sufferers do not purge their bodies of the excess food.

Bulimia nervosa is defined as uncontrolled episodes of overeating (bingeing) usually followed by self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, enemas, or medications in an attempt to control weight.

Playing competitive sports can boost self-esteem and teach teamwork and leadership lessons. But sometimes being on a team that focuses too heavily on performance—or appearance—may trigger an eating disorder.

Boys and men have eating disorders, too. Males make up 5 to 15 percent of patients with anorexia or bulimia and 35 percent of those with binge-eating disorder.

The disorder may develop when others make repeated negative comments about a person's weight.

At least 8 million people in the U.S. are living with an eating disorder. The overwhelming majority – about 90 percent – are female.