There are many classifications of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive over-eating. I'm just going to breeze through this, and for more comprehensive information on eating disorders I suggest visiting some of the links I've offered in the links section, and you'll be able to find a wealth of information for your use :).
Anorexia and bulimia are the two eating disorders I've dealt with the most. One thing that is generally common to eating disorders is low self-esteem. Control is a big issue for many as well, and often times people feel that their eating disorders help them control at least one aspect of their lives. What we don't realize until too late, is that this control is an illusion - after a while, we don't control it - it controls us. Often times, however, we continue to give into the illusion of control and fight hard to keep it.
In the broad sense, anorexia involves severely restricting food intake while bulimia involves binging and purging. This is, of course, oversimplified but that's the gist of it. In the long run neither work or make life any easier. They slowly take over your life, your identity, and proceed to eat away at your core. Many on the "outside" look at eating disorders as simply being about weight. In many cases though, weight is the last thing they are about. Eating disorders are a coping method, and allow an avenue for avoiding the "real issues", numbing out, and avoiding the pain which often accompanies life. Yes, often weight and food become the central issue for someone with an eating disorder, however this is just another way to avoid dealing with what we don't want to deal with. If we put all our mind and energy into food and appearace, then there is none left to think about what's really going on. While the eating disorder seems like a way out for us, it actually becomes a trap. They are not glamorous, they are not fun, and they do NOT work. They are very dangerous, can be fatal, and again... do not work. They don't accomplish anything except for making us more miserable than ever. That's my "scoop" on EDs - for specifics, once again, I suggest you visit the links. Thanks!
