Photo: Courtesy of New Harbinger Publications

When she was 18, Lucy Howard-Taylor knew she was letting anorexia eat away at her life, her body and her brain. Now, a year later, she's published a memoir ("Biting Anorexia") about living in the grips of an eating disorder -- and how she was able to set herself free. In an interview with a AOL Health, she discusses the competitive (and addictive) nature of posting on pro-ana forums, how she was able to recognize she had a problem and what treatment and healthy eating are like for her today. Read the full interview about anorexia recovery here.

Eating disorders aren't simply born from a desire to stay thin. Other factors such as low self esteem, family troubles or a history of abuse can also contribute to eating disorder development. Often, people with eating disorders inappropriately use food to feel in control of their own lives.

Liz Jones, a columnist for the Daily Mail, wrote a candid report about her own battle with anorexia. Jones states that her obsession with food started at age 11. In her early 20s, she sought treatment for her eating disorder. But still, though she claims she has this "thin thing under control," her life is riddled with the fences her eating habits erect and the social and medical consequences they create.

Jones was recently told that she's heading towards a diagnosis of osteoporosis. (Anorexia and osteoporosis are closely linked, as bone density can be negatively impacted by hormonal and nutritional problems.) In light of that warning, and because her "fantastic cook" of a sister was coming for a visit, Jones decided to try to eat without self-imposed restrictions for three weeks.

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A study came out recently that examined the relationship between vegetarians and eating disorders, and it's stirring up some serious controversy. It found that adolescent and young adult vegetarians, while more likely to be of a healthy weight and follow a healthier diet filled with fruits and vegetables, also "may be at increased risk for disordered eating behaviors, such as binge eating and unhealthful weight-control behaviors (such as forcing themselves to vomit, using diuretics and laxatives, and taking diet pills)." Yikes!

Of course, a conclusion like this has been picked up by plenty of outlets. Diet Blog has a particularly lively discussion going on in the comments, and an interesting point is broached. Is it really that vegetarians face an increased risk of developing an eating disorder? Or, is someone with an eating disorder just more likely to gravitate toward a restrictive diet, such as vegetarianism?

When you think about it that way, it makes a lot of sense. An anorexic teenager can use vegetarianism to more easily hide his or her unhealthy diet -- Mom and Dad will be far more likely to accept their child's refusal of a pork chop if it's because their child is a vegetarian, and might not notice that far fewer calories are being consumed.

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Anorexia nervosa and bulimia might be the conditions that first come to mind when you think of eating disorders. But tennis great Monica Seles fought a nine-year battle with a lesser-known issue, binge eating disorder.

Seles turned to food as a way to cope through two tragic incidents -- the death of her father and being stabbed in the back by a Steffi Graf fan while competing in 1993. Seles said, "Food became my best friend. I was lonely and I would just eat. It was my coping mechanism. Food was how I dealt with stress."

In time, Seles' unhealthy relationship with food caught up to her and she packed on 35 pounds.

Seles talks about her battle with binge eating disorder in her book, "Getting a Grip." She says she finally realized she had beaten her disorder when she competed on "Dancing With the Stars" and was able to take harsh criticism without turning to food.

Have you ever used food as a coping mechanism?

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We've all spent time in a darkened kitchen staring into the fridge. For most of us, snacking late at night is less about hunger and more about boredom or habit.

But, for some, eating late at night is a problem. Believe it or not, there's actually a syndrome for out-of-control late-night eating. Then again, there's a syndrome for just about everything. It's appropriately called night eating syndrome (NES). For those who battle the issue, it's no laughing matter.

NES affects both people who are obese and those at a normal weight. A hormone is the suspected culprit behind this syndrome that affects four million Americans. If you just have nighttime munchies, then you likely don't have NES. If, however, you consume at least 35 percent of your calories late at night and it's becoming an issue for you, talk to your doctor.

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Loving parents want the best for their children -- health, happiness, contentment and success. So this story of a family in the UK whose daughter is battling an eating disorder broke my heart. What makes the situation worse is that the teenager blames her problems on her father, who is obese.

So often, as parents, we worry about the external forces that influence our kids. From TV shows, to dolls, to ads in magazines ... everything is a potential force that can sway our kids away from the values we'd like them to have. But the influences within our homes are even stronger. The examples we set -- with our health, our actions, our morals -- are more powerful than any external source.

The dad whose daughter has an eating disorder and blames it on him was obviously heartbroken. He loves his daughter and he wants her healthy and well. I hope, while recognizing that his habits did influence her, he realizes that her eating disorder isn't his fault. I so respect the way he's handling it, though. As his daughter is receiving treatment for her eating disorder, he's also seeking help for his obesity. While they're on opposite sides of the issue, I wish them both the best of luck on resolving their issues with food and getting to a healthy weight.

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Jenna Vaught is not your average beauty queen. She didn't grow up in a life filled with pretty dresses and perfect make-up. Instead, Jenna was an obese child and the accessories she wore were shame and self-loathing. In her young 20's, Jenna had her daughter and soon after reached her highest weight -- 427 pounds. Her mobility was affected as was her health. More importantly, Jenna realized she was caught in a vicious cycle -- her insecurities were the root cause of her weight gain and her weight gain was adding to her insecurities. Jenna went on a mission to lose the weight, rediscover herself, and reach her life goals. Jenna's weight loss is inspiring, but even more inspiring is the insight she now has regarding body image and learning how to love yourself. I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with Jenna so she could share her story with That's Fit readers. Read on for the first half of her interview.

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According to the National Eating Disorders Association, approximately 90%-95% of anorexia nervosa sufferers are girls and women. And it's often assumed the majority of sufferers are white. But the disorder isn't limited to any demographic. A new book, Going Hungry (releasing on September 9) highlights the stories of 19 different anorexia nervosa survivors -- including stories from women, men, and minorities.

One of the shared stories is from Rudy Ruiz, who -- after being taunted and teased as a chubby child -- began trying to lose weight unhealthily during his high school years. He drank gallons of diet iced tea and ran five miles a day, ultimately dropping to 104 pounds -- far too thin for his 5' 7" frame. His initial desire to shed some extra pounds had turned into an obsession. He'd later learn that he had anorexia nervosa. Today, Ruiz is 40 and a two-time graduate of Harvard. He admits that while is healthy now, he still struggles with the obsession.

If you or someone you know might be suffering from anorexia nervosa or another disorder, visit the National Eating Disorders Association for information and support.

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