Eating disorders are serious and often fatal illnesses that are associated with serious alterations in people's eating behaviors and in the thoughts and emotions related to them. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and restrictive food avoidance intake disorder (ARFID). If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, it is important to seek treatment early. In California, there are certain restrictions on providing counseling services to clients with eating disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is dedicated to transforming the understanding and treatment of mental illness.
NIMH offers peer-reviewed information on mental disorders and a variety of topics, including statistics on the prevalence, treatment, and costs of mental illness for the United States population. NIMH also provides resources to help those with mental illness find help for themselves, a friend or family member. Clinical research is another important part of NIMH's efforts to ensure the greatest public health impact of the research they support. NIMH supports research at universities, medical centers, and other institutions through grants, contracts, and cooperation agreements. The Intramural Research Programs Division (IRP) is the internal research division of NIMH.
More than 40 research groups conduct basic and clinical neuroscientific research on mental illness, brain function, and behavior on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. NIMH also provides free digital outreach materials in communities and on social media to spread information about mental health. The NIMH Strategic Research Plan is a broad roadmap for the Institute's research priorities over the next five years. It outlines NIMH's commitment to accelerating the pace of scientific progress and transforming mental health care. NIMH also provides funding opportunities for small businesses and offers research, training, and professional development opportunities. There is a misconception that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice.
Eating disorders are actually serious illnesses that are associated with serious alterations in people's eating behaviors and in the thoughts and emotions related to them. Anorexia nervosa is a condition in which people avoid food, severely restrict it, or eat very small amounts of only certain foods. Bulimia nervosa is a condition in which people have recurrent episodes in which they eat unusually large amounts of food and feel a lack of control over these episodes. Binge eating disorder is a condition in which people lose control over their diet and have recurring episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food.
ARFID is a condition in which people limit the amount or type of food they eat. Anorexia nervosa has an extremely high mortality rate compared to other mental disorders. People with anorexia are at risk of dying from medical complications associated with starvation. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. People with bulimia nervosa may be slightly underweight or overweight.
People with binge eating disorder are often overweight or obese. Researchers are discovering that eating disorders are caused by a complex interplay of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors. Researchers are using the latest technology and science to better understand eating disorders. One approach involves the study of human genes to identify DNA variations that are related to an increased risk of developing eating disorders. Brain imaging studies also provide a better understanding of eating disorders. In California, there are certain restrictions on providing counseling services to clients with eating disorders.
Counselors must be licensed by the state in order to provide counseling services for clients with eating disorders. Counselors must also have specialized training in treating clients with eating disorders before they can provide counseling services for these clients. It is important for counselors to be aware of these restrictions when providing counseling services for clients with eating disorders in California. Counselors should also be aware that there are certain risks associated with providing counseling services for clients with eating disorders. Counselors should be prepared to provide appropriate support for their clients throughout their treatment process.
