When people picture someone with an eating disorder, many think of a thin teenage girl with anorexia nervosa. This stereotype ...

In the United States, eating disorders are the second most deadly mental health issue (behind opioid use disorder). And they are more common than you may think, affecting about 9 percent of the U.S.

Researchers have identified many different causes for eating disorders, ranging from genetic risk factors to the culture a person grows up in. However, no single factor causes all eating disorders.

“Food is my heroin,” said Haley (a pseudonym), 28, comparing her ADHD and binge eating disorder to a drug problem. “It sounds dramatic but it’s true. As hard as I try to prevent binge it’s like ...