An increasing number of scientific studies suggest that food, like drugs or alcohol, can have addictive qualities.

The Female Athlete Triad is a health concern for active women and girls who are driven to excel in sports.

Research suggests that 50 percent of people who have an eating disorder are also abusing alcohol or drugs.

You hear the words "addiction," "rehab," and "relapse." But, what does it mean to truly be addicted to something?

Pasta or Pinot Grigio; would you rather save your calories for booze?

Who better to talk about what goes on behind the scenes in the fashion world than superstar supermodel, Carol Alt?

The National Eating Disorders Association defines "orthorexia nervosa" as a fixation on righteous eating.

Why in the world is a size 4 considered to be fat?

Kids don't always make the best choices when it comes to food. So, how can you help your kids eat healthier without setting unrealistic expectations?

Concerns about being overweight begin as early as preschool, and the drive for thinness intensifies with age.

Do you really know how dangerous binge eating can be to your health?

When you eat, do you feel out of control and powerless to stop?

Learn ways to teach your children how to have healthy relationships with food and themselves.

Obesity can trigger psychological disorders including mental illness, depression, distorted body image and low self-esteem.

Pregnancy should be a beautiful, happy time in your life; but it can also trigger disordered eating habits.

Despite growing awareness about eating disorders, in recent years these disorders have been on the rise in men.

Learn why loving your body is the most crucial element in your overall health.

You're back! Glad to know I didn't scare you away with Part 1 of my turmoil and trouble with ED. And if you're joining me for the first time, ED = Eating Disorder, not Erectile Dysfunction... I'll save that topic for the experts (see Part 1 of the blog here).

When I last left you, I was talking about all the ways an eating disorder can envelop you, taking you to the deepest, darkest places of your soul. It's a sickness – and it really IS a sickness, mentally and physically – that seeps into every pore of your being. It becomes the absolute most important thing in your life and does not care who (or what) is sacrificed in the process whether it's friends or family members... or husbands, marriages.

A positive? You get really good at math. In the good old days of my eating disorder, I was constantly calculating calories consumed vs. calories burned in my mind, figuring out just how many hours of exercise I would need to burn off that apple I had for dinner. To be honest, I still do this to some extent; I'm just eating a more "acceptable" amount of food.

An eating disorder never gives you a rest. It consumes every second, every minute of your day, from the moment you wake until you fall asleep. I even dream about it.

I was going to wait until "Eating Disorder Awareness Month" came around to write this blog, but the truth is we should be "aware" of eating disorders every single day.

If you've never been affected by an eating disorder, or you have never known anyone with an eating disorder, you may be thinking, "So what? What do I care? There's a whole month devoted to people who want to be skinny???" For those of us who DO suffer, most of us would probably answer: we honestly hope you don't care.

Contrary to some beliefs, eating disorders – and the physical symptoms that often follow – are NOT always a way to garner attention. In fact, many people suffering from an eating disorder would rather you just leave them and their eating habits (or in some cases, non-eating habits) alone.

My family and some of my friends (the ones I trust) have come to accept this about me. They know I will not be partaking in family or holiday dinners. I will gladly invite people out to eat, but I will not eat with them. My mom has learned to simply not set a plate for me. I'm not offended; I actually love this about her. My husband knows I will never join him in ordering at dinner. He "eats for two," as I often explain it. And I love him for it as well. The servers at our favorite restaurant know that I may take something to-go, but I will never eat in the confines of the establishment.

Weird? Yes. But bear with me a bit.

The drive to be thin can start very young. Don't let your child become a disordered eating statistic.

You have self-control over your impulses but still find yourself coming out of multiple food hangovers. Why does this keep happening?

The CDC estimates more than one-third of children and adolescents are considered overweight or obese. Is your child one of them?

Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is due to emotions. It is a huge barrier to weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.

One in 10 teenage girls and 1 in 20 adults display symptoms of an eating disorder, but never get help. Why? And might someone you love be at risk?

Female Athlete Triad is a serious health issue that involves disordered eating, low bone mass, and cessation of the menstrual cycle.

Are male eating disorders a silent epidemic? Many men, including Mark Cuban's brother, suffer. Research says he is not alone.

The plan that can bring you dramatic results, improve your hormonal health and provide relief from symptoms.

If there were more realistic images of women in the media and fashion industries, we could drop our obsession with thin bodies.