How to Know If You Have An Eating Disorder?
How often do you find yourself thinking about food, calories, weight, and exercise? While everyone struggles with food and body image concerns on occasion, for individuals with an eating disorder, these concerns can become a constant obsession. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have an eating disorder, it is important to seek help as soon as possible.
By: Lucy Wild
Eating disorders are mental and physical illnesses that manifest in unique ways for everyone. Oftentimes, the symptoms and behaviors experienced do not fit the exact mold of the most well-known diagnoses - Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.[1] As a result, recognizing the fact that you may have an eating disorder can be challenging. However, if you are reading this article, or questioning your relationship with food, it may be a sign that you are experiencing an eating disorder.
The National Eating Disorders Association estimates that around 10% of the population in the U.S. will deal with some sort of eating disorder during their lifetime. That is around 30 million Americans — 20 million women and 10 million men. This means that roughly one in every ten people are experiencing symptoms related to an eating disorder that are causing undue distress in their lives. It is also important to note that eating disorders are non-discriminatory. Any person of any weight, body size, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic standing can experience an eating disorder.[2,3] If you are questioning your relationship with food, eating, exercise, or body image, yet you do not fit the mold of what a stereotypical eating disorder patient looks like, it is still a possibility that you could be affected and are worthy of treatment and reaching out for help.
Recognizing the fact that you may have an eating disorder is often the hardest step on the journey to recovery.[3] Eating disorder behaviors often develop as coping mechanisms in response to stress, trauma, life changes, and other triggering events. The behaviors often provide a sense of control and comfort for those who experience them. It is important to recognize, however, that these same behaviors also cause distress and impairment in a person's life. In addition to the mental and social consequences a person may experience, there is physical harm that can take place. Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect every organ system.[4] Due to this, it is incredibly important to seek treatment and recovery.
Here are some warning signs to look for if you are wondering if you are experiencing an eating disorder. Keep in mind that eating disorders manifest in unique ways in each individual, so you may not be experiencing all of these symptoms at once.[5] The list below is a good place to start when you are questioning:
Preoccupation with food, calories, eating, body shape, and weight
Body dissatisfaction, dysmorphia, and fear of gaining weight
Feeling depression, anxiety, or irritability
Heightened anxiety around mealtime and struggling to eat in front of others or in public
Rigid food rules such as refusing to eat certain food groups; or rituals such as cutting up food into small bites or reheating food frequently throughout the meal
Using compensatory behaviors such as purging, laxatives, diuretics, or excessive exercise after eating
Eating large amounts of food in discrete periods of time, accompanied by shame or guilt and a sense of lack of control
Feelings of guilt, or low self-esteem after eating large amounts[3,5,6]
You may also experience physical symptoms such as:
Significant fluctuations in weight, both weight loss and weight gain
Stomach complaints such as cramps and pain
Changes in bowel habits or gastrointestinal distress such as constipation or acid reflux
Feeling dizzy, weak, or tired
Disturbances in sleep[3,5,6]
If any of the above experiences sound familiar to you, it is important to reach out for help and learn more about your treatment options. The good news is that eating disorders are treatable illnesses and full recovery is possible. As mentioned above, eating disorders present differently in each person, and even if you consider the symptoms you experience to be mild or cause minimal distress, you can still benefit from treatment and recovery. It is pivotal to reach out no matter what you are experiencing, especially since early intervention is associated with the most positive outcomes.[1]
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues. Additionally, we offer a free Contemplating Recovery Support Group for individuals contemplating some form of treatment for concerns related to eating, food and body image. Currently, this group is held virtually.
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below or read more about our philosophy here.
This post was written by BALANCE Dietetic Intern, Lucy Wild.
Lucy Wild is a Dietetic Intern at New York University, where she is also pursuing a Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition. Lucy received her undergraduate degree from Goucher College where she studied Dance and Environmental studies. Prior to working in nutrition, Lucy has a background in the performing arts working as a dancer and performer. Life as a performer drove her to cultivate a nourishing lifestyle to support her for long hours of dancing and hustling around NYC. She is passionate about food and the joy and community that come with it. Through working as a Registered Dietitian, Lucy hopes to support others in finding joy, pleasure, and gentle nutrition through food and lifestyle.
Resources
1. Risk Factors. National Eating Disorders Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/risk-factors. Published August 3, 2018. Accessed October 27, 2020.
2. What are Eating Disorders? National Eating Disorders Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/what-are-eating-disorders. Published June 26, 2019. Accessed October 27, 2020.
3. How to Recognize the Warning Signs of Disordered Eating (and What to Do). Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-recognize-the-warnings-signs-of-disordered-eating-and-what-to-do/. Published October 19, 2020. Accessed October 27, 2020.
4. Health Consequences. National Eating Disorders Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/health-consequences. Published February 22, 2018. Accessed October 27, 2020.
5. Warning Signs and Symptoms. National Eating Disorders Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms. Published February 6, 2020. Accessed October 27, 2020.
6. What is OSFED: Symptoms, Causes, and Complications. Center For Discovery. https://centerfordiscovery.com/conditions/osfed/. Accessed October 27, 2020.