10 Eating Disorder Symptoms
Article Sources
- 1. 'Overweight:' MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003101
- 2. 'Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).' National Eating Disorders Association, 22 Feb. 2018, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/arfid
- 3. 'Bulimia Nervosa.' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 10 May 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bulimia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353615
- 4. 'Excessive Exercise and Eating Disorders - Mirror.' Mirror, 11 June 2020, mirror-mirror.org/eating-disorders-2-2/excessive-exercise-and-eating-disorders
- 5. What Is Anorexia?: 'How To Spot Anorexia Symptoms .' FightED, fighted.org/about-eating-disorders/anorexia/
Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating: These are three eating disorders that are sometimes difficult to spot to the outsider. Even those who are close to those affected may not notice the warning signs. It's not always possible to spot the danger signs as anyone who has either of these conditions is unlikely to want anyone else to know, so they will go to great lengths to hide it.
No matter how hard a person tries to conceal their illness, eating disorders can be detected and adequate treatment can be arranged if people close to the person know the signs and symptoms of eating disorders.
Underweight/Overweight
Although being only a few pounds over or underweight shouldn't really cause concern, being excessively so would certainly ring alarm bells. It is also probably the easiest sign to spot as it's virtually impossible to hide, especially for anyone overweight. Those drastically underweight could try to hide it with oversized clothing. The normal body mass index (BMI) is between 18.5 to 24.9.
Adults with a BMI of 40 or above are considered extremely obese.1‘Overweight:’ MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003101 Being morbidly obese significantly increases the risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and premature death. A BMI between 15 and 16 is considered severely underweight and can lead to malnutrition, anemia and decreased immune function.
Eating Little
The fear of gaining weight can lead to a food disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, that stops people from consuming enough food to maintain optimum health. This typically leads to a low-calorie diet and multiple nutritional deficiencies, causing weight loss and illness.
Another reason for eating very little could be because of the condition called avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, where individuals may be put off by the taste, texture, smell or even sight of food.2‘Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).’ National Eating Disorders Association, 22 Feb. 2018, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/arfid
Eating Too Much
When the topic of eating disorders crops up, usually the first condition considered is anorexia nervosa. While people with anorexia nervosa significantly reduce their food intake to lose weight, excessive binge eating can develop.
Consuming vast amounts of food in a short amount of time or bingeing on foods with a high sugar content, such as desserts or fatty foods, could also point to a condition called bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder.
Eating Alone
The secrecy that can sometimes surround eating disorders could lead to individuals choosing to eat alone to ensure their problem goes undetected. Another reason a person with an eating disorder may choose to eat alone is guilt. They could feel ashamed of their behavior.
They likely wouldn't want anyone to see how little or how much they're eating and how they play with their food. Eating in the company of others could put unwanted social pressure on the individual to eat.
Regular Visits to the Bathroom
Eating disorder symptoms come in many forms. One of them could be frequent visits to the bathroom during mealtimes. It may be innocent, but it could be a sign of someone having an eating disorder, such as bulimia.
Bulimia and some forms of anorexia nervosa inspire an individual to deliberately vomit, ridding themselves of the food they have just eaten. The long-term effects of bulimia may include damage to the heart, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.3‘Bulimia Nervosa.’ Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 10 May 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bulimia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353615
Vomiting
Individuals who force themselves to be sick after meals may have the eating disorder bulimia nervosa. Forcibly vomiting after bingeing is a classic sign of the condition. Individuals with anorexia nervosa may just as easily induce vomit without prior bingeing.
Other signs of frequent vomiting could be callouses on the knuckles, which can develop from using the fingers to force the vomit, and the loss of tooth enamel from the acidity in vomit.
Excessive Exercise
Excessive exercise could be a sign of an eating disorder, especially if it becomes obsessive. People suffering from anorexia nervosa, for example, can become fixated on removing the food they have just consumed, and rather than throwing up, they burn up the calories through exercise.4‘Excessive Exercise and Eating Disorders - Mirror.’ Mirror, 11 June 2020, mirror-mirror.org/eating-disorders-2-2/excessive-exercise-and-eating-disorders
Signs of anxiety and a compulsion to exercise shortly after a meal could signify an eating disorder.
Laxatives and Supplements
Vomiting is not the only route someone with an eating disorder can take if they want to rid themselves of their consumed food. Dispelling it through the digestive tract is another option, and using laxatives can speed up the process. The issue is, the body is unlikely to absorb any nutrients from the food.
Excessive use of laxatives or supplements that block or alter the way someone's food is absorbed could be a sign that someone has an eating disorder.
Worry and Shame
People with eating disorders may not perceive themselves as other people see them. Even though it is evident to everyone around them that they're vastly underweight, they could quite easily see themselves as being fat.5What Is Anorexia?: ‘How To Spot Anorexia Symptoms .’ FightED, fighted.org/about-eating-disorders/anorexia/
Someone who is constantly worrying about their size and shape and claims to be ashamed and disgusted by their appearance, especially when it's not warranted, could be dealing with an eating disorder.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Constantly checking yourself out in the mirror is not uncommon, especially among young women. It may be a sign that something is amiss when someone does it to the point of obsession and constantly criticizes themselves while doing so.
Mirrors are ideal for getting ready for a big night or getting prepared for work, but they can become a trap and a place for self-criticism and unjustified shame and disgust for anyone with an eating disorder.
