What do you do if you suspect that someone close to you might have an eating disorder? How can you help them? Are you overly concerned with your weight and preoccupied with food? With more young women seeking help with an eating disorder the chances are that you will know someone who is afflicted. In this sympathetic account a doctor with a long experience of dealing with eating disorders discusses their causes and effects and describes the treatments offered -from self-help to specialist hospital care.Dr. Bob Palmer: Dr Palmer Trained in psychiatry at St. George's Hospital London. He has published many research papers on eating disorders and currently eating__s the Eating Diners Service at Leicester Hospital where he is an honorary Consultant Psychiatrist.Dr. Tony Smith: Family Doctor Publications' Medical Editor-in-Chief was for many years Deputy Editor of the British Medical Journal and continues to work as an Associate Editor. He is the Medical Editor of both the Complete Family Health Encyclopaedia and the Family Home Adviser.We regret the author(s) are unable to enter into correspondence with readers.The British Medical Association (BMA): The British Medical Association is the professional body that looks after doctors' interests speaks on their behalf and keeps their scientific knowledge up to date through meetings and publications.