Mutual support groups whose members are individuals who have a problem with compulsive eating, who eat the wrong foods or are people who are overweight and are using the group to develop self-esteem and self-confidence, and accept themselves as they are. Also included are groups that are structured specifically for or accept people who have a diagnosed eating disorder. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; provide emotional support, information and resources for those who participate; offer weight loss or weight gain support only, no special diets; and may include faith-based and secular 12-step groups as well as non-12 step groups.

Individuals who are generally between the ages of 18 and 25 depending on the ages that specific programs use for qualification.

An eating disorder most commonly seen in young women age 12 to 21 that is characterized by a loss of appetite for food that is not explained by local disease or specific neurosis or psychosis. There is progressive, severe loss of weight and suppression of menstruation in women, and impotence in men. The patient typically denies that anything is wrong even when emaciated.

An eating disorder that is characterized by recurrent binge-eating episodes during which a person feels a loss of control over his or her eating. Unlike bulimia, binge-eating episodes are not followed by purging, excessive exercise or fasting. As a result, people with binge-eating disorder often are overweight or obese. They also experience guilt, shame and/or distress about the binge-eating, which can lead to more binge-eating.

A condition in which people who are obsessed with thoughts of food repeatedly gorge themselves on large amounts of food over brief periods of time, usually in secret, and stop eating only when they have pain, become very sleepy or are interrupted. People who have bulimia often fast, force themselves to vomit and use laxatives and other medication in an attempt to prevent weight gain.

People who have difficulty controlling their compulsion to eat more food than they require or who eat the wrong foods (e.g., foods with high amounts of sugar, fat, salt, carbohydrates or other similar substances).