An eating disorder can be severe food restriction (anorexia), bingeing and purging (bulimia), consistent bingeing or overeating, or take a subtler form: "emotional eating", which means eating that is driven by emotions, not hunger.

Typically the person with an eating disorder feels very ashamed and attempts to keep the behavior a secret. A sense of shame about one's body; a preoccupation with food, weight, and appearance; and a feeling of being out of control are usually present also.

The goal in psychotherapy is two-fold, and happens simultaneously. One goal is to understand the (psychological) purposes that the behavior serves. As awareness of these underlying reasons grows, different ways can be found to meet those emotional needs. The other goal is to learn to manage the behavior, until it is no longer "needed".

In addition to psychotherapy, medication can be a useful part of the process

Catherine Lowry, LCSW-C