Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders

Someone with anorexia may show any of the following:

Dramatic weight loss within a period of months

Wearing baggy clothes or layers to hide body shape

A preoccupation with weight, exercise and/or calories

Food restriction and avoidance

Belief life will be better if he or she can lose weight

Use of diet pills, laxatives and/or enemas

Isolation and fear of eating with others

Food rituals and secretive eating patterns

Disposing of food in strange places

Keeping a “food diary” or lists of calories and exercise

Hair loss, sunken eyes, pale skin

Dizziness and headaches

Low self-esteem and need for approval from others

Feeling cold

Low blood pressure and heart rate

Loss of menstrual cycle

Constipation, stomach pain

Perfectionist personality

Loss of sexual desire

Mood swings, depression, anxiety and/or fatigue

Trouble sleeping

 

Signs of bulimia include many of those listed above, and also may include:

Bruised or callused knuckles, bloodshot eyes, light bruising under eyes

Sore throat and/or swollen glands

Binging and/or purging

Fear of not being able to control eating

Trips to the bathroom following meals, sometimes using running water to hide the sound of vomiting

 

In addition to the signs listed for anorexia and bulimia, compulsive overeating also may include:

Chronic dieting

Hiding food in strange places to eat at a later time

Blaming hardship in life on weight

Belief food is his/her only friend

Excessive sweating and shortness of breath

High blood pressure and/or cholesterol

Leg and joint pain, decreased activity

Weight gain

 

The other day I had a friend ask me if I could give her a pill that would make her anorexic for a week. She’s hit a plateau in her weight loss efforts and was incredibly frustrated. Though many may joke about how they wish they were anorexic for a day, having an eating disorder is no laughing matter. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 24 million Americans suffer from disordered eating. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating, are unhealthy relationship with food and weight, which interferes with many aspects of a person’s life. Out of all mental disorders, eating disorder patients have the highest death rate. One in ten people with and eating disorder will die as a direct result of the illness.

There are three main types of eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder.

Anorexia involves a severe restriction of calories; there may be a fear of weight gain and strict “rules” about eating.

Bulimia can involve these same fears and restrictions, but also involves binging and purging. This involves vomiting, exercise or use of laxatives.

People with binge eating disorder eating large amounts of food to cope with feelings. Food is often eaten without attention to hunger or fullness.

Not all eating disordered patients are severely under weight or look too thin. A person with an eating disorder may display one symptom or many. Please see the information box for some of the signs and symptoms of the three common eating disorders.

It’s critical for anyone with symptoms of an eating disorder to seek professional help. Early treatment gives the greatest chance for a full recovery. So why is it so dangerous? These eatign disorders put nonstop strain on your body and brain. The lack of nutrition can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, hormone loss and electrolyte imbalances.

Anorexia: The process of starvation can affect most organ systems. Physical dangers include constipation, low heart rate/blood pressure, abdominal pain, dry skin, fine body hair and lack of menstrual periods. Anorexia also causes anemia, bone loss, kidney problems and changes in brain function.

Bulimia: Vomiting and laxative abuse can lead to swollen glands, vitamin and mineral imbalance and wearing down of tooth enamel. There also can be long-lasting problems with digestion and the heart.

Binge Eating Disorder: This disorder brings an increased risk for a heart attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney disease, arthritis, bone loss and stroke.

 

If you have a nutrition question you’d like answered in this column send it to oconeenutrition@yahoo.com with “Question for the Breeze” as the subject title.

Lisa Eisele, RD, CSO, LD, can be reached at 706-473-5801.