hello. we def understand all of your mixed emotions. it's hard to believe that people who are sensible and even understand what they are doing to there body isn't normal or safe but do it anyways for reasons unknown to them. please be carefull though. i applaud the fact that you are searching out answers but you sound very similiar to myself and now i can't go a day without obsessing with food and have been bulimic for the most part of over a year and a half (a brief time i was able to control it but stress eventually got the best of me. i'm trying to do better now). eating disorders usually resolve around appearance, weight, and other superficial issues (mine included) but usually there are deep underlying issues that really bring them out. i am similiar like you i'm very intelligent, and very knowledgeable on food, diets, and exersize and even to this day i can't stop from binging and purging. it's like ok i shouldn't do this because this is bad for me, but i can't stop. it is a true addiction. in my other posts i explained to another person that i've come to realize that my e.d. really took shape as a way for me to help control something (anything) in my life. now it is the most stable thing in my life as sad as it is to say.

i do not believe that people are born with e.d. but adapt them to be apart of there life for something that is missing, a form of control, or other notions like that. i also believe that many people have e.d. that go through very stressfull or emotional times. i think that it is something that is very deep and that most people will have to battle with there whole lives. i was controlling mine for awhile but then i moved and now i'm kind lonely, and stressed and it kind of took off again, but when i can express my emotions it helps.

also i think e.ds do come from how toxic all of our bodys are. many people believe in fasts and detoxes (i def do) but feel that it is an excuse to proceed or validate the e.d. i'm so scared to start my own fast but know that i need to. sophie, a girl in this forum, brought that to my attention. oh, and to answer at least one of your questions there is a ton of stuff in todays processed food that can make our bodies become "addicted" to all that garbage. if you ever have time google detoxes and fasts you'll find a ton of stuff. also preservatives . curezone also i'm sure has a ton of info on that matter. lol, and if your still bored google raw food diets and there is a site thelemonadediet.com and if you research through those forums in the raw food and the juice fasts there is a lot of information that is so helpfull on teaching you why raw food diets are so important as are detoxes.

idk if i answered any of your questions i'm just trying to be honest with you. Oh, and be carefull when people start to have an obsession with food and images that is where an ed starts to take form or at least come out( mine did). and from the weight and superficial aspects of the e.d. it comes to represent, i think, more emotional and psycological things and that is where the addiction takes place and its a horrible road to travel.