This paper points out recent diagnostic features of bulimia and anorexia nervosa and of the recently defined 'binge eating disorder'. The pharmacologic treatment approaches for these conditions will be reviewed by discussing the results of randomized controlled studies. For anorexia nervosa (AN), the outcome of pharmacotherapy has been poor, in contrast to bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED), where pharmacological treatment, primarily with antidepressants, has proved to be effective, at least in the short run. However, long-term outcome studies are still awaited. (MJ Psych Clin Pract 1997; 1: 21-35).