Eating disorders comprise a diverse group, which include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other non-specific eating disorders. Recently the rising incidence of obesity in the population and in particular childhood obesity, has attracted attention in western countries. This book concentrates mainly on anorexia nervosa, not in a vain attempt to find a 'representative' eating disorder, but because it encapsulates wider medico-legal and socio-ethical dilemmas around the use of coercion in the management of an often chronic and unresponsive condition, especially in adulthood.