Abstract
This narrative review is based on research on eating disorders published in 2024. The prevalence of eating disorders has ranged from 8% in the world and 9% in the U.S. (10 million females, 1 million males) to a higher rate of 28% in outpatient psychiatric clinics. The various types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, atypical anorexia nervosa, other specified feeding and eating disorders and orthorexia. The reported negative effects include self-criticism and low self-compassion, injuries and medical complications. The positive effects include low pain and posttraumatic growth. Comorbidities include gastrointestinal problems, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Predictors/risk factors include childhood trauma, excessive social media, neuroticism, perfectionism, self-criticism, body dissatisfaction, fears of weight gain and multiple pre-existing conditions. Buffers and interventions include body appreciation, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), internet CBT, alternative therapies including art, music and movement therapies and psychedelics. Potential underlying biological mechanisms involve adrenergic activity, inflammation, orexins, tryptophan and serotonin depletion and reduced connectivity in different regions of the brain. Methodological limitations of this literature include the predominance of reviews and meta-analyses versus empirical studies, the combining of the various types of eating disorders in metaanalyses, and the rare multivariate studies to determine the relative significance of risk factors as well as effectiveness of different therapies.