The person with Anorexia Nervosa diets (and often exercises excessively), reducing their body weight to at least 15% below their average expected weight.

1) A resulting hormonal disorder leads to loss of menstrual periods in women

2) The person with anorexia has an intense fear of becoming fat, which is sometimes denied.

3) They feel fat even though under-weight, and have very low self esteem, which is unduly influenced by body shape or weight.

4) They might also binge eat, vomit or misuse laxatives

The person with bulimia nervosa experiences episodes of binge eating (a large amount of food in a short space of time) during which they cannot control how much they eat.

1) To prevent weight gain, they self induce vomiting, misuse laxatives, fast, or excessively exercise.

2) They have low self esteem which is unduly influenced by body shape or weight.

The person with an atypical eating disorder often appears very similar to someone with anorexia or bulimia, but could:

1) Self induce vomiting after eating small amounts of food

2) repeatedly chew and spit out food

3) Or binge eat, but not prevent weight gain (binge eating disorder)

• Eating Disorders - A public information leaflet 
  Describes eating disorders and how to get help.

• Guidelines for clinical management of eating disorders in primary care (2002) 

• Eating Disorders - Guidance on clinical management in primary health care (1999) 
  Provides advice so GPs can identify, treat and refer patients more effectively.