Signs and Symptoms of an Eating Disorder

Eating disorders are a serious health condition that can affect physical and mental health. 

• Symptoms can include how one thinks about food, weight and shapes one’s eating behaviors

• Symptoms can affect health, emotions, and ability to function in everyday life 

• If not treated effectively, can lead to long term issues

• Eating disorders can harm the heart, digestive system, bones, teeth, and mouth

• Also linked with depression, anxiety, self harm, suicidal thoughts and behaviors
  

Symptoms of an eating disorder:

• Dramatic weight loss

• Concern about eating in public

• Concern with weight, food, calories, fat grams, or dieting

• Complaints of constipation, cold intolerance, abdominal pain, lethargy, and excess energy

• Excuses to avoid mealtime

• Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”

• Dressing in layers to hide weight loss or to stay warm

• Severely limiting and restricting the amount and types of food consumed

• Refusing to eat certain foods

• Denying feeling hungry

• Expressing a need to “burn off” calories

• Repeatedly weighing oneself

• Patterns of binge eating and purging

• Developing rituals around food

• Excessively exercising

• Physical signs:

• Stomach cramps 

• Difficulty concentrating

• Atypical test results (anemia, low thyroid levels, low hormone levels, low potassium, low blood cell counts, slow heart rate)

• Dizziness

• Fainting

• Feeling cold

• Sleep irregularities

• Menstrual irregularities

• Dry skin

• Dry, thin nails

• Thinning hair

• Muscle weakness

• Poor immune system
  

Causes of eating disorders:

• Genetics: bigger risk if parent or sibling had one

• Personality traits: Neuroticism, perfectionism, and impulsivity are three linked with a higher risk

• Societal pressures such as the pressure to be thin, exposure media, and cultural preferences of thinness

• Experts proposed that differences in brain structure and biology play a role in the development of an eating disorder

• Chemicals serotonin and dopamine
  

Different types of eating disorders and their symptoms:

• Anorexia Nervosa

• Restricted eating patterns

• Intense fear of gaining weight or avoiding gaining weight, despite being underweight

• Pursuit to be thin and unwillingness to maintain healthy weight

• Distorted body image, denial of being underweight

• Heavy influence of body weight or perceived body shape on self esteem

• Bulimia Nervosa

• Episodes of binge eating with lack of control

• Episodes of inappropriate purging behaviors to prevent weight gain

• Self esteem influenced by body shape and weight

• Fear of gaining weight, despite having normal/typical weight

• Binge eating disorder

• Eating large amounts of food rapidly, until uncomfortably full

• Feeling lack of control during episodes

• Feeling distress (shame, disgust, guilt) when thinking of binge eating behavior

• No use of purging behaviors (such as calories restriction, vomiting, excessive exercise, etc)

• Pica

• Craving non substance food or food that does not provide nutritional value

• Ice

• Dirt

• Soil

• Chalk

• Soap

• Paper

• Hair

• Rumination disorder

• Person regurgitates food they previously chewed or swallowed

• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder 

• Avoidance or restriction of food that prevents person from eating enough calories or nutrients

• Eating habits that interfere with social functions 

• Weight loss or poor development for age and height

• Nutrient deficiencies or dependence on supplements or tube feeding
  

Treatment:

• Individual, group, or family psychotherapy

• CBT may help to reduce/eliminate disordered behavior

• Medications 

• Antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers help treat this and other disorders such as depression or anxiety

• Nutritional counseling

• Working with a dietitian to learn proper nutrition and eating habits