Eating Disorders are life threatening mental illnesses, whose behaviors offer short term and relatively quick relief from distress. Eating Disorders are often mischaracterized, misunderstood, and can be easily missed by clinicians due to lack of appropriate training and education. Eating disorders are illnesses associated with severe disturbances in eating behaviors, as well as related thoughts and emotions. There may also be symptoms of preoccupation with food, and body weight and shape.