[Eating disorders]

Practitioners and psychotherapists see themselves more and more confronted to patients, specially women, with eating disorders. According to recent studies it can be estimated that the incidence of bulimia lies between 2% and 5%, of anorexia between 0.2% an 1%. The percentage of separate elements of the disorder is considered to be much higher, e.g. for binge eating at least 25%. At present around 3 to 6 years go by until patients contact a therapeutic setting for the first time. But the shorter the time between first appearance of the disorder and beginning of its treatment is, the better the prognosis. In order to improve treatment an interdisciplinary approach of practitioners, psychotherapists, dieticians and if needed other specialists should be strived for. Although obesity must be seen in a psychopathologic context in many cases, here we concentrate on the discussion of anorexia and bulimia.