A common misconception about eating disorders is that they aren’t serious illnesses. In part because of this, roughly 9 in 10 people with eating disorders either never receive treatment or go completely undetected.

Even among those who do seek professional help and make a full recovery, about a third will experience one or multiple relapses. Below, let’s dive into the complexities and psychology behind eating disorders, what eating disorder treatment looks like, and why the disorders are so difficult to treat.