Most people think of teenagers or young adults when they think of eating disorders, but they can affect young children as well. Eating disorders are problems with the way people eat. They can harm a person's health, emotions, and relationships. There are several types of eating disorders. To lose weight, some people with anorexia fast or exercise too much. Others may use laxatives, diuretics (water pills), or enemas. People with bulimia eat much more (during a set period of time) than most people would. If a person regularly binges and purges, it may be a sign of bulimia. Unlike people with anorexia who are very low weight, people with bulimia may be thin, average weight, or overweight. People with bulimia often hide their eating and purging from others. Anorexia nervosa, often called anorexia, is an eating disorder in which people maintain a weight that is below average for their age and height. Children or adolescents with anorexia have an intense fear of getting fat or gaining weight. They may be preoccupied with food and have a distorted body image, perceiving themselve as “fat” even when very thin.