Costs and cost-effectiveness are now well recognized as important aspects of the burdens of and treatment for eating disorders. Ample evidence indicates that, leading up to and following diagnosis, the cost burdens associated with eating disorders are high; this is true whether viewed from the perspective of a healthcare payer or from a societal perspective. On the other hand, it is important to note that studies involving cost modeling and direct cost collection in treatment have shown that treatment of eating disorders is quite cost-effective. Cost is now increasingly examined as an outcome in eating disorder treatment trials. This remains an area of great need for further research.