Signs they may have an eating disorder
Eating Disorders are classed as a Psychiatric illness that manifests itself in a compulsion and obsession around food. It can take on many different forms and can cross from one disorder to another. Diagnosis can be difficult as sufferers are often masters at deception and their denial so strong that even you start to question your suspicions.
Symptom’s to look out for
There are some signs and symptoms to look out for in a loved one that should never be ignored and need further investigation by a professional. These symptoms could mean that they are suffering from an eating disorder and require specialist treatment and help. I have grouped the 3 most common disorders, Anorexia, Bulimia and Compulsive Overeating :
Anorexia – Starving and depriving oneself of food or specific food groups in order to achieve dramatic weight loss
- Extreme weight loss
- Wearing shapeless baggy clothes that hide their body frame
- Excessive exercise
- Skipping meals regularly, or claiming to have already eaten.
- Hiding food
- Obsessively checking food packets for calorific values
- Leaving meals barely touched and not wanting to eat in front of others
- Obsessively weighing themselves
- Dizziness, weakness, insomnia, absent periods: all due to lack of nutrition
Bulimia Nervosa – Characterized by bingeing, starving, purging in cycles, taking on varying patterns and degrees of severity. Thought to be two to three times more common than Anorexia, and more difficult to detect as the sufferer often has a healthy BMI.
- Binge eating, eating when full
- Starving, skipping meals
- Hiding and hording food
- Eating alone
- Rapid eating
- Hiding empty food packets and wrappers
- Disappearing to the bathroom after meals
- Tooth decay
- Excessive use of laxatives
- Excessive exercise
- Vomiting
- Irregular period and general appearance of looking tired and run down
Compulsive over-eating – Characterized by binge eating (continuing to eat when full) weight gain and obesity. Pre occupation with food.
- Binge eating, continuing to eat when full
- Hiding food and hording food
- Hiding empty packets and food wrappers
- Rapid Eating
- Isolating
- Always on a diet
- Rapid weight fluctuations
- Eating alone
Treatment for Eating Disorders
It is recognised that therapy is the way forward in treating eating disorders, sometimes this is combined with medication such as anti-depressants. Further help and advice can be sought by calling our helpline number and checking out the National Eating Disorders website at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
