Weighing The Facts: eating disorder signs

What is an eating disorder?

eating disorder

Function: noun

: any of several psychological disorders (as anorexia nervosa or bulimia) characterized by serious disturbances of eating behavior

Eating disorders involve extreme behaviors, attitudes, and feelings surrounding food, weight, and body image which are harmful to a person's health and well-being.

Eating disorders are dangerous and can be fatal.

Though someone may be suffering from one eating disorder, they may also exhibit behaviors /traits of other eating disorders (or trade one eating disorder for another).

Below are some of the signs, symptoms, and red flags:

Anorexia

refusal to eat
intense fear of gaining weight
distorted or negative self-image
low blood pressure
dry skin
lanugo (soft, downy hair covering the body)
sensitivity to cold
fainting/dizziness
irregular heart rhythm
brittle nails
dehydration
hair loss/brittleness
loss of menstruation
swelling of arms/legs
social withdrawal
depressed mood
denial of hunger
irritability
hair loss
osteoporosis
osteopenia
heart failure
reduced interest in sex
excessive exercise
repeated weighing of self
cooking for others but doesn't eat the meal themselves
spitting food out after chewing
rigid food rituals (cutting into tiny pieces, moving food around plate,etc)
complains of being fat
skipping meals
not wanting to eat in public
obsession with calories
constipation
fatigue
arthritis
insomnia
easily bruises
dramatic weight loss/relatively short period of time
food restriction/self-starvation
malnutrition
electrolyte imbalances
muscle atrophy
paralysis transient (or temporary)
kidney disease/failure
stroke

Bulimia

secretive/excessive eating
inappropriate methods of weight control
repeated episodes of binging/purging
self-induced vomiting
diuretic abuse
frequent dieting
laxative abuse
obsessive exercise
obsession with weight
guilt/shame after eating
lack of control over eating
hiding food
eating to the point of discomfort
rarely eats normal meals
use of bathroom after meals
eating unusual large amounts of food
callouses or scars on knuckles/hands (sticking fingers down throat)
frequent soar throat
frequent weight fluctuation
not underweight
puffy cheeks (caused by vomiting)
tooth decay/discolored teeth
hair loss
swelling of hands/feet
tearing of esophagus
broken blood vessels/eyes
weakness
dizziness
arthritis
osteoporosis
osteopenia
ruptured stomach
acid reflux
ulcers
easily bruises
loss of menstruation
bloating
abdominal pain
low self-esteem/body image
malnutrition
electrolyte imbalances
muscle atrophy
paralysis transient (or temporary)
kidney disease/failure
stroke

Compulsive Overeating/Binge Eating Disorder

eating uncontrollably
eating large amounts of food (in short period of time)
emotional eating
eating rapidly
eating when full
feeling frenzied/out of control
feeling guilt/shame after eating
fear of not being able to control eating
fear of not being able to stop eating once started
fear of eating around others
isolation
social withdrawal
weight gain/obesity
weight fluctuations
shortness of breath (even with light activity)
low self-esteem
low body image
excessive sweating
high blood pressure
insomnia
abdominal pain
leg/joint pain
mood swings
depression
fatigue
chronic dieting
secretive eating
hiding food
feeling food is your only friend
malnutrition
electrolyte imbalances
kidney disease/failure
stroke

For more information:

Find Help:
Resources

Do You Have An Eating Disorder?

Self Assessment Tests

compiled from the following sites:
http://www.mayoclinic.com
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
http://www.something-fishy.org
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html
http://www.medicinenet.com
http://helpguide.org
picture source:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lchifi/ / CC BY 2.0