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is characterized by a sudden weight loss as a result of a drastic restrictive regime, fasting, provoked purging, laxative abuse and/or excessive exercise. Anorexia is associated with an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image and irregular periods.

is characterized by bingeing followed by compensatory behaviors. Bingeing is generally done in secret and is followed by a feeling of a loss of control. The binges are followed by compensatory behaviors such as provoked vomiting, abuse of diuretics and laxatives, compulsive exercise and/or fasting.  These acts are used as an attempt to get rid of the eaten food. Even if the majority of bulimics have a weight close to their normal weight, excessive preoccupation with the body, fear of weight gain and body image dissatisfaction are associated with bulimia.

is characterized by episodes of bingeing accompanied by feelings of guilt and shame, but these binge eating episodes are not followed by compensatory behaviors. Food obsession, restrictive regimes to lose weight, and depression are associated with this syndrome. In contrast to the other disorders, men represent a large proportion of the people suffering from binge eating disorder (two men to three women according to the latest statistics). While anorexia and bulimia usually start during adolescence, binge eating disorder usually starts at a later age (average age-23 years).

Eating disorders are considered to generally affect women, but it is becoming more evident that men are becoming more and more vulnerable and that the percentage of men (young and less young) affected is on the rise. As in the case of women, the eating disorder can be triggered by a psychological vulnerability manifested by low self-esteem, a feeling of loss of self-control, emotions, as well as an effort to get the perfect body that is idealized by society. Researchers have recently identified “Muscular deformation” or the “Adonis Complex”, which is considered to be a variant of eating disorders with men (generally with body builders). This disorder is as well known as “bigarexia” or “inversed anorexia” because the ones who suffer never find themselves big enough in contrast to anorexics that never find themselves small enough. Men who suffer from deformation generally start by devoting themselves to physical exercise (to augment their muscular mass) and after start dieting (to lose weight and to perfect their form). In comparison to women, men have a tendency to augment their muscular mass and lose fat. Men suffering from eating disorders often abuse steroids, products known to burn fat and protein supplements; they generally don’t abuse laxatives. Among the symptoms common to both genders one can mention: body image dissatisfaction, excessive physical exercise, elimination of certain types of food, obsessions related to eating and exercise, and the use of artificial products and medications to reach their goals.