Actually, eating disorders (ED) are recognized as a group of serious alterations in food intake, caused by distorted patterns in the act of eating, as an immediate response to a psychic impulse. They are considered a social problem that mainly affects adolescents and young adults, with a prevalence of approximately 14% (1), with the female sex being the most implicated. In addition, a series of genetic, biological, psychological and social factors have been identified that increase the risk of suffering an ED. General objective: Carry out a systematic review of the bibliography on the prevalence, characteristics, risk factors, definitions and management of eating disorders. Method: A literature review was carried out in the Pubmed, Medline and SCIELO databases. Where we received approximately 15,500 articles, each researcher in the group selected 10 articles for a total of 60 articles, which were filtered through the inclusion criteria, using 20 articles for the final review. Result: It was evidenced that eating disorders are considered a social problem caused by multiple factors that requires comprehensive and interdisciplinary management. Conclusion: Eating disorders are recognized as a complex condition, which mainly affects adolescents and young adults, caused by an interaction of personal, psychological and social factors in the individual, which require professional and interdisciplinary accompaniment.