Signs of an Eating Disorder

The Holidays are over and the New Year has begun. For many people that means time to get back into shape, time to start a new workout program or time to lose the extra pounds that have crept on over the years. That’s all well and good and getting into better shape by exercising more and eating more healthy foods is always a good thing. It becomes a problem when things turn excessive and compulsive.

The new year, following a gluttonous holiday season can be the trigger for someone to develop an eating disorder. We all think of eating disorders as mainly rail thin teenager girls who survive by eating little more than a salad each day.

Anorexia is a serious eating disorder but it isn’t the only one. Other eating disorders include bulimia, binge eating and non specific eating disorders which really don’t fit one of the other categories completely.

How can you tell if someone suffers from an eating disorder?

You can’t always tell someone has an eating disorder simply because they have lost a lot of weight. Many people lose weight and have no eating disorder while many people don’t lose weight, are even overweight, but have a severe eating disorder. Weight loss can be a symptom of an eating disorder but it isn’t conclusive without other symptoms.

Anorexia Symptoms

Preoccupation with food
Refusal to eat
Fear of gaining weight
Distorted self image –body dysmorphic disorder
Refusal to eat with other people
Irritability
Hair loss
Weight loss

Bulimia Symptoms

Preoccupation with food
Low self esteem
Frequent binge eating
A general feeling of being out of control
Self induced vomiting (often hidden)
Excessive use of laxitives (often hidden)
Red marks or raw knuckles (from teeth scraping the back of the hand used to induce vomiting)
Teeth discoloration
Frequent nose bleeds

Binge Eating Symptoms

Consuming large quantities of food
Feeling of shame for eating so much food
A general feeling of being out of control
Eating when not hungry and to a point of discomfort
Inability to stop eating when full

If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, symptoms of an eating disorder of just a preoccupation with food there is help. Recover from an eating disorder can be successful but it takes a lot of work and a lot of support. Locus Therapy provides treatment for eating disorders, if you are in need of treatment, or would just like to talk to someone, please give us a call at (312) 218 7380.