INTRODUCTION

Eating disorders are a group of severe and often chronic mental disorders characterised by abnormal eating patterns and cognitive distortions related to food and weight (1). Studies indicate that the usual timing of the onset of eating disorders is following puberty and that pathological eating predominantly occurs in females (2). These eating disorders result in adverse effects on nutritional status, medical complications, and impaired health status and function (1). Examples of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorders and they are all associated with significant impairment in quality of life, as well as psychological and physical functioning (2).