Eating disorders are relatively new disorders. However, they have been around a while; we just did not have a diagnostic coding for them. Diagnosis and treatment plans were developed in the1960s, 70s, and 80s. Through those years, their prevalence has increased. And the severity of the rate has also increased, but historically the term "anorexia" means loss of appetite. So many times people mistakenly think those who have anorexia do not have an appetite. Occasionally they don't because body chemicals are out of balance and there will be an absence of appetite. But most people who have anorexia are very hungry, but they have such an intense fear of becoming fat that it overrides the hunger response. So they find ways to cut off from their feelings and ignore or distract the hunger feeling. Sometimes they do that by staying busy, sometimes by chewing gum, sometimes by drinking carbonated beverages. They will do different things like chew food and then spit it out. So they will find ways to attempt to bypass the hunger but actually they are hungry.
