Identifying the Symptoms of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia will not only completely transform a person’s appearance but will also affect one’s behavior and personality. A simple explanation of the difference between the two disorders is that bulimics eat large amounts of food and then throw up (binge-eating and purging), while anorexics simply starve themselves. The first step to prevention is to recognize the symptoms. Here is an overview of anorexia and bulimia, as well as the most common symptoms of eating disorders.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia occurs when a person refuses to eat
in order to maintain a particular body weight.
Anorexics will experience extreme weight loss,
as much as 15% below their normal body weight.
Even when they become very skinny, they still
believe that they are overweight. Weight loss
is achieved through excessive exercise, laxatives
and fasting. Their acquired dieting habits are
based on their intense fear of becoming fat.
Anorexia is thought to be most common among
adolescent girls and people involved in activities
wherein thinness is preferred, such as dancing,
modeling, and distance running. It is helpful
to know the symptoms of anorexia.
Signs of anorexia
- Feeling overweight even when thin
- Experiencing dramatic weight loss
- Basing self-worth on body weight and/or body image
- Skipping meals frequently
- Insisting on eating only certain foods (usually those low in fat and calories)
- Preparing meals for others but not eating
- Weighing yourself frequently
- Looking in the mirror for flaws frequently
- In females, missing three consecutive menstrual periods
- In males, a decrease in sexual desire
Physical effects of anorexia
The most serious health risk to someone with
anorexia is death caused either by the effects
of severe weight loss or by suicide. Estimates
claim that as many as 1 in 10 people with anorexia
will die from complications of the disorder.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia is characterized by episodes of binge-eating
followed by purging. A binge is an episode whereby
an individual eats a much larger amount of food
than would most people in a similar situation.
Binge-eating is usually a response to depression,
stress, or self-esteem issues. During a binge
episode, an individual experiences a loss of
control. Some methods of weight control for
bulimics include vomiting, fasting, enemas,
excessive use of laxatives and diuretics, and
a compulsive need to exercise. People with bulimia
can appear perfectly normal; many of them are
of normal weight and some are even overweight.
Moreover, binge-eating and purging is often
performed in secret, making it difficult to
determine whether or not a person is suffering
from bulimia. Although there is currently no
known definite cause of bulimia, there are warning
signs to be considered.
Signs of bulimia
- Uncontrollable eating
- Inappropriate weight control methods – strict dieting, fasting, vomiting, vigorous exercise, or abuse of laxatives or diuretics
- Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals
- Preoccupation with body weight and/or body image
- Consummation of foods mostly high in calories
- Depression or mood swings, feeling out of control
- Heartburn, bloating, indigestion, constipation
- Weakness, exhaustion
- In women, irregular menstrual periods
If you have a friend or family member who suffers from an eating disorder, your emotional support is important. Recommend that they see a doctor and/or a counselor who can help them in their battle against the illness. As in the case of many other diseases, be prepared to meet denial, resistance, and anger from the sufferer. Learn to recognize the symptoms of eating disorders in order to prevent their escalation. It may save someone’s life.
About the Author:
Holly Cates is a nutrition and physical
expert. She also provides content for the Weight
Loss Products Comparison website.