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  Eating Disorders  
 

Strange as it sounds, it is perfectly possible to have an addictive relationship with food -or with the eating or not eating of food- that is very similar to the addictive relationship other, more familiar addicts have with alcohol and drugs. The same similarities can also be found in cases of pathological gambling, pathological spending and compulsive sexuality.

It is essential to understand that the addictive syndrome does not consist merely of excess or too much of something. By no means is everyone who eats, drinks, gambles or spends too much automatically or by definition suffering from an addictive disorder. Critics of the concept of addiction are quite right to point out that such excessive "medicalization" of all unhealthy or undesirable human behavior is intellectually absurd and morally hazardous. But when such critics go on to deny the very existence or validity of the syndrome of addiction itself, they are without knowing it "throwing the baby out with the bathwater."

The addictive syndrome is a recognizable set of behaviors, attitudes and psychological defenses that is described in more detail on the Addiction and Recovery page.

 

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Links

About.com Eating Disorder Site
Information and links about eating disorders.

Academy for Eating Disorders

The Academy for Eating Disorders is a multidisciplinary professional organization focusing on Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder.

Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc.
A nonprofit organization that provides information about anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, compulsive exercising, and other less well-known food and weight disorders. 

Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders Online

The Eating Disorder Site

 Food Addicts Anonymous
Food Addicts Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who are willing to recover from the disease of food addiction. 


National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
Founded in 1976, ANAD is the oldest national non-profit organization helping eating disorder victims and their families. In addition to its free hotline counseling, ANAD operates an international network of support groups for sufferers and families, and offers referrals to health care professionals.

Overeaters Anonymous
Overeaters Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively.

Overeaters Anonymous Meetings in Metro Atlanta, GA.

Something Fishy
Web site on eating disorders.

Original Papers

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