FOOD NOURISHES AND sustains the human body. It energizes the body with nutrients that keep it strong and healthy. Food is also a source of pleasure, whether one is dining out in a favorite restaurant or sitting down for a home-cooked meal.

Yet for many, food is a source of conflict and a daily obsession. For these people, the act of eating—or not eating—is not an issue of body nourishment or hunger. Instead, it is a way to express or cope with feelings. It is also a fixation that can take total control over a person's behavior. When someone's relationship with food affects his or her self-esteem, sense of identity, or ability to be happy, that person has what is known as an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are a very serious health problem in the United States. As many as 10 million people or more...