Common Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders -Rishmeet Sethi

Eating disorder is a condition which is marked by an unhealthy relation with food. Three extremely popular EDs are:

1. Bulimia nervosa- it is marked by cycles of extreme overeating, known as bingeing, followed by purging or other behaviors to compensate for the overeating. It is also associated with feelings of loss of control about eating.

2. Anorexia nervosa- it is characterized by weight loss often due to excessive dieting and exercise, sometimes to the point of starvation. People with this disorder feel they can never be thin enough and continue to see themselves as “fat” despite extreme weight loss. It is very harmful.

3. Binge eating disorder- This is characterized by extreme overeating and feelings of loss of control of eating.

SOME COMMON SINGS AND SYMPTOMS OF ANOREXIA NERVOSA-

Anorexia nervosa is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight or shape.

People with anorexia nervosa typically weigh themselves repeatedly, severely restrict the amount of food they eat, often exercise excessively, and/or may force themselves to vomit or use laxatives to lose weight. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder.

Symptoms over time include:

• Thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)

• Mild anemia and muscle wasting and weakness

• Brittle hair and nails

• Dry and skin

• Severe constipation

• Low blood pressure slowed breathing and pulse

• Damage to the structure and function of the heart

• Brain damage

• Multi-organ failure

• Drop in internal body temperature, causing a person to feel cold all the time

• Lethargy, sluggishness, or feeling tired all the time

• Infertility

SOME COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BULIMIA NERVOSA-

People with bulimia nervosa have recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and feeling a lack of control over appetite. This binge-eating is followed by behavior that compensates for the overeating such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives, fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of these. People with bulimia nervosa may be slightly underweight, normal weight, or over overweight.

Symptoms over time include:

• Chronically inflamed and sore throat

• Swollen salivary glands in the neck and jaw area

• Worn tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth as a result of exposure to stomach acid

• Acid reflux disorder and other gastrointestinal problems

• Intestinal distress and irritation from laxative abuse

• Severe dehydration from purging of fluids

• Electrolyte imbalance (too low or too high levels of sodium, calcium, potassium, and other minerals) which can lead to stroke or heart attack

SOME COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BINGE EATING DISORDER-

People with binge-eating disorder lose control over their eating. Unlike bulimia nervosa, periods of binge-eating are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting. As a result, people with binge-eating disorder often are overweight or obese.

Symptoms over time include:

• Eating unusually large amounts of food in a specific amount of time, such as a 2-hour period

• Eating even when you're full or not hungry

• Eating fast during binge episodes

• Eating until you're uncomfortably full

• Eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment

• Frequently dieting, possibly without weight loss

Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, racial/ethnic backgrounds, body weights, and genders. Eating disorders frequently appear during the teen years or young adulthood but may also develop during childhood or later in life. These disorders affect both genders, although rates among women are higher than among men.

Researchers are finding that eating disorders are caused by a complex interaction of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors. Eating disorders run in families. Researchers are working to identify DNA variations that are linked to the increased risk of developing eating disorders. Brain imaging studies are also providing a better understanding of eating disorders. For example, researchers have found differences in patterns of brain activity in women with eating disorders in comparison with healthy women. This kind of research can help with the development of new means of diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.

SIGNS THAT YOU MAY BE SUFFERING FROM AN EATING DISORDER ARE:

1) You struggle to eat in front of others. Eating disorders make it difficult to engage with food in a healthy way. That might mean having a hard time eating in public or feeling like you need to hide the food that you’re eating.

2) You develop rituals based around eating. One of the biggest issues for those struggling with an eating disorder is that they feel a need for control over the way they eat. It’s good to have a routine around meals, like always starting dinner with a salad. It’s a problem when you’re unable to eat without going through a specific routine.

3) You’re losing and gaining weight rapidly. With disordered eating, it’s hard for the body to retain the nutrients it needs to maintain a healthy weight. In turn, the fluctuation in weight can be incredibly triggering for people who are already dissatisfied with how their body looks.

4) You’re experiencing body dysmorphia. Body dysmorphia is defined as an obsession with perceived flaws in your physical appearance. Although it’s not present in all types, body dysmorphia is often a key trigger in leading to the development of disordered eating.

5) You struggle to stay warm, even when it’s hot outside. Fat is good. It exists to help keep our bodies warm. When there’s inadequate nutrition for fat cells, it’s common for people to feel a deep cold that they can’t shake.

6) Your stomach constantly hurts. Lack of adequate nutrition also affects the gastrointestinal system. While the specific symptoms can vary from person to person, some common ones include cramps, acid reflux, and constipation are common.

Despite the fact that eating disorders are extremely complex and prevalent, prevention is possible. We need to replace the negative thoughts about our bodies with appreciation and acceptance. Eating disorders can be deadly, so it’s important for us as a society to not be afraid to talk about them. Recognizing that they are a huge problem and identifying how we can support, love, and encourage the people in our lives that struggle with them is a critical step in preventing eating disorders. We must eliminate the guilt and shame that often precludes people from getting the treatment they need. Although there is no real way to “prevent” an eating disorder, we can educate ourselves about the nature of disorders. Everyone take care and eat healthy!