Eating disorders - either eating too much or too little - occur when people use food as a way of dealing with personal difficulties. They are often linked to gaining a perception of, and taking control, when much of the individuals world feels out of control.  Research has shown that some people are genetically susceptible to developing an eating disorder which is then triggered by external life events, often as a result personal or family trauma in childhood such as physical and or sexual abuse. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and compulsive over-eating are the main eating disorders.