What is the primary characteristic of eating disorders?

The primary characteristic of eating disorders is unhealthy eating behaviors. Eating disorders encompass a range of conditions, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, all of which involve severe disturbances in eating habits and attitudes toward food. These unhealthy behaviors can manifest as restrictive diets, binge eating, purging, or a fixation on weight control that significantly impacts a person's physical and psychological health.

While factors like obsession with dieting, weight fluctuation, and social withdrawal can be associated with eating disorders, they do not capture the entirety of what defines these conditions. Many individuals with eating disorders may exhibit extreme dieting practices or experience fluctuations in weight, but the core issue remains the unhealthy relationship with food and eating patterns. Therefore, identifying unhealthy eating behaviors as the primary characteristic provides a clearer understanding of the fundamental issues present in eating disorders.