ABSTRACT
The true onset of eating disorders begins in childhood even though symptoms generally manifest themselves in adolescence or later. A substantial, not well defined number of individuals meet criteria for atypical forms of eating disorders or for newly emerging diagnoses such as binge eating disorder, which is found in 25% of persons with medical obesity. The current consensus is that eating disorders are a probabilistic outcome of the number and severity of specific risk factors present. In addition to a sociocultural environment that promotes slimness and/or shape change as a means of dealing with developmental issues, eating disorders have been quantitatively related to other specific variables. Persistent diarrhea may require evaluation for laxative abuse, not only in eating disorders but in any patient with unexplained diarrhea. Constipation is a common complaint of these patients, and we should remember that diarrhea secondary to laxative abuse and diarrhea around constipation should certainly be considered in the differential diagnosis of any current diarrhea.
