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Abstract
Eating disorders are an important cause of physical and psychosocial morbidity in
adolescent girls and young adult women. They are much less frequent in men. Eating
disorders are divided into three diagnostic categories: anorexia nervosa, bulimia
nervosa, and the atypical eating disorders. However, the disorders have many features
in common and patients frequently move between them, so for the purposes of this Seminar
we have adopted a transdiagnostic perspective. The cause of eating disorders is complex
and badly understood. There is a genetic predisposition, and certain specific environmental
risk factors have been implicated. Research into treatment has focused on bulimia
nervosa, and evidence-based management of this disorder is possible. A specific form
of cognitive behaviour therapy is the most effective treatment, although few patients
seem to receive it in practice. Treatment of anorexia nervosa and atypical eating
disorders has received remarkably little research attention.