While it looks eating disorders are about food and weight, they often develop as a way to cope with some type of emotional pain a person is suffering from inside. They develop when a person feels overwhelmed by something they cannot control in their life, and as a coping method, they take control of what they eat, how much or little they eat, and ultimately how much they weigh. People suffering from an eating disorder may believe this makes them feel better, but in reality, they are doing serious damage to their emotional and physical health.