Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic group. The effects of eating disorders can be detrimental if left untreated — early intervention is paramount. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of eating disorders and seeking treatment is essential for a successful recovery.
by: Amanda Nussbaum
An eating disorder is a mental illness that results in the development of an unhealthy relationship with food, exercise, and one’s body, which can impact a person’s self-esteem, life, and overall health. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, at least 30 million people in the U.S. have struggled with an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. Many people develop eating disorders between adolescence and young adulthood, but those with eating disorders may display signs and symptoms earlier or later in life.
The cause of eating disorders is unknown, but some components that could factor into the development of an eating disorder include perfectionism, stress, relationships with friends and family members, and unrealistic expectations. Certain sports like track, gymnastics, and ice-skating tend to focus on appearance, which can also influence the prevalence of disordered eating and excessive exercise habits. Genetics also point to a propensity for developing an eating disorder. In addition, the media can affect a person’s self-esteem by promoting fad diets or workouts, and by highlighting edited photos.
Different Kinds of Eating Disorders
The three most well-known eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-Eating Disorder. Anorexia Nervosa is seen in people who show significant weight loss or have a hard time maintaining a healthy weight for their height, gender, and age. Those with anorexia often erroneously view themselves as being overweight, do not consume enough calories, or over-exercise. Bulimia Nervosa involves the consumption of large amounts of food, or bingeing, and then inducing vomiting, over-exercising, or engaging in other compensatory behaviors to undo or counteract the effects of binge. Like Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder also involves eating large quantities of food in a short period of time resulting in feelings of shame and lack of self-control. However, unlike bulimia, people with Binge Eating Disorder do not engage in compensatory behaviors after a binge episode.
There are also other eating disorders that are less known than the three discussed above. Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is often defined as “extremely picky eating” and involves extreme food restriction, aversion, and selectivity, or “pickiness.” People with ARFID restrict foods or entire food groups out of fear of throwing up or choking, not out of fear of gaining weight as is the case with other eating disorders. Another disorder, Orthorexia, involves an unhealthy obsession with the quality or “purity” of foods in one’s diet as well as how the food was processed and prepared. These behaviors often result in unhealthy eating behaviors. Pica is an eating disorder in which people consume non-food items, such as soap, paper, ice, or detergent. Rumination Disorder occurs when people spit out food and re-chew it. Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED), which used to be known as Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS), involves the presence of certain symptoms of a particular eating disorder that do not meet actual diagnostic requirements. Like OSFED, people with Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder (UFED) do not meet the criteria for a specific eating disorder, but there is not enough information for them to be diagnosed with OSFED.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
Because there are different types of eating disorders, a person’s emotional, behavioral, and physical signs and symptoms will vary. For some, dieting, weight, and exercise become a large concern and priority. Some people may not like eating with others or attending social events, have a poor body image, and look at themselves in the mirror frequently. People may also eliminate entire food groups from their diet or have food rituals. Eating disorders can cause sleep problems, mood swings, dizziness, fine hair on the body, feeling cold, or irregular menstrual cycles. These are just a few signs and symptoms of eating disorders, but some eating disorders have more specific symptoms.
For example, those with anorexia often have a fear of gaining weight, count calories, diet, do not eat, or over-exercise. Many people with anorexia also skip meals, eat small portions, and wear multiple layers or loose clothing. People with bulimia go through binge-eating episodes and then engage in some form of compensatory behavior (ie vomiting, excessive exercise, using laxatives or diuretics, etc). People with bulimia also tend to have dental problems, experience sores on their knuckles, and often chew gum. As with bulimia, the common signs of a Binge-Eating Disorder involve eating large amounts of food alone, even if they are not hungry, often to the point of discomfort, but they do not compensate for the bingeing.
Eating disorders are a major health concern because they often lead to other medical complications if not addressed and treated. Treatment options include meeting with a therapist, dietitian, nutritionist, and other eating disorder professionals to help with meal planning and counseling. Proper treatment of an eating disorder will allow a person to restore their weight and strengthen both their mental and physical health. Eating disorders are serious medical conditions, but with the proper treatment, recovery from an eating disorder is possible.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Intern, Amanda Nussbaum.
Amanda is a recent graduate of Ramapo College, where she majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She enjoys being creative, writing, and editing videos, and is passionate about health, wellness, and lifestyle. Throughout college, Amanda volunteered with the Girls on the Run organization, which helps young girls develop a positive self-esteem. She also mentored a young girl through Ramapo College’s chapter of Big Brother, Big Sister. Amanda’s involvement in these organizations helped her realize that she wants to work for a company that has an impact on others, while still being creative with marketing. In the future, Amanda hopes to work in the marketing or communications department of an organization that focuses on teenagers and young adults, and their health and self-confidence. She enjoys contributing to the BALANCE blog!