title: Understanding eating disorders.
abstract: Eating disorders can be severe and enduring mental illnesses that have serious physical, psychological and social consequences. They can also have a significant effect on the person's friends and family. In this patient group, control of body shape, weight or eating is over-valued and becomes the main or only way of judging self-worth. Eating disorders can be mild and self-limiting, but they commonly run a chronic course unless treatment is successful. Nurses play an important role in early detection, assessment and treatment.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clark-Stone
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joyce
mesh_terms: D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001828:Body Image; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015984:Causality; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D024802:Nurse's Role; D012573:School Nursing; D012649:Self Concept