5 Misconceptions about Eating Disorders

In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder. However, there exist many misconceptions about the same and here are 5 of them:
1. You can tell a person has an eating disorder because they are skinny. It's important to understand that weight is only one of the symptom of an eating disorder.
2. People with an eating disorder can stop when they want to, but they just don't want to. Eating disorders are a serious mental illness - not a 'phase' that can be controlled or that can pass with time.
3. Men don't have eating disorders! A recent Harvard study declared that 25% of people suffering from anorexia and bulimia are men, and 40% of men with eating disorders are binge eaters!
4. People who overeat are lazy! Many binge eaters are physically active and they pay attention to detail on what they eat, it's just that they have binging episodes.
5. Eating disorder can't be cured! Studies reveal that up to 60% of people receiving treatment recover fully, while 80% recover partially.