OCD, Anxiety Sufferers More Likely to Have Eating Disorders

It's pretty common for studies to examine people with eating disorders to understand more about what other kinds of disorders may be present. These studies have shown that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a relatively frequent problem in those with eating disorders. What a new study has found is that the relationship also seems to occur in the other direction: As many as 1 in 5 people with OCD (and 1 in 3 with other anxiety issues) may have eating disorders.

That's a huge portion of the eating disorder population. The researchers make what seems to be a valid conclusion: Health workers should be on the lookout for disordered eating when they see anxiety issues in their exam rooms and offices.

• Rituals common in both eating disorders and OCD
• Orthorexia - when getting food "right" is crucial
• Some personality issues can also accompany eating problems
• Cutting can make EDs more painful