People with eating disorders struggle to maintain healthy relationships with food and their bodies. That’s a fact, and so too is this: conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), while treatable, can be life threatening if unaddressed.

But what about the notion that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice? That is simply not true. It’s a myth, as is the false belief that only girls and women develop these conditions. Unfortunately, myths such as these create confusion and can even keep people from getting treatment.

So, how can someone concerned about disordered eating—their own or a loved one’s—learn to separate fact from fiction when it comes to understanding when and how to seek help? And what are the options for effective treatment?

David J. Alperovitz, PsyD, provides an overview of eating disorders, shares tips for recognizing key warning signs, and answers audience questions about how anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and ARFID are diagnosed and treated.