What Are The Symptoms of Eating Disorders?

Eating Disorders are not only significant burdens on life, but can also cause both mental and physical ailments.

There are several different types of eating disorders. These disorders share some similarities, although crucial differences exist.

The exact symptoms that will be experienced can vary slightly from condition-to-condition, and person-to-person.   

What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating Disorders: An Eating Disorder is a mental disorder that is characterised by abnormal eating habits, and generally, an unhealthy relationship with food. Eating disorders can cause intense mental suffering, and lead to physical health problems. There are several different types of eating disorders – each with their own set of symptoms. t is common for someone with an eating disorder to have a comorbid mental health condition.

Symptoms of Eating Disorders

In general, someone that has an eating disorder will have an unhealthy relationship with food, and have abnormal eating habits.

These habits will typically have lasted for a long period of time. The pattern of food consumption will typically lead to changes in appearance and behaviour.

Symptoms that are often seen across the various types of eating disorders include:

• Weakness and fatigue
• Weight loss
• Often going to the bathroom after eating
• Constipation
• Acne
• Tooth decay
• Sensitivity to the cold
• Secrecy around food
• Health problems
• Men: Reduction in waking erections or low sex drive
• Women: Interrupted periods

Below we list some of the typical symptoms of each disorder. More detail is available on the individual page for each condition.  

Anorexia Nervosa

• Attempts to keep weight as low as possible
• Does often not eat enough, or exercises excessively
• Low self-esteem
• Thinks endlessly about weight
• Often exhibits low mood or feelings of anxiety

Bulimia Nervosa

• Recurrent episodes of binging and subsequent purging
• When purging, forcing emesis or using laxatives
• Often will starve themselves between binges
• Thinks significantly about food and weight
• Often exhibits low mood or feelings of anxiety

Binge-Eating Disorder

• Regularly losing control of eating habits, despite trying to diet
• Binge-eating – consuming a large amount of food in a short space of time, to the extent where they may feel ill
• After a binge, they will often feel guilty and ashamed
• Weight gain is common, as are health problems
• Feelings of low mood and anxiety are common.

Other Specified Eating or Feeding Disorder

• Diagnosed when someone doesn’t fit into another eating disorder category
• May show symptoms of multiple disorders
• Will often have low self-esteem
• Will put themselves at risk of having health problems
• Feelings of low mood and anxiety are common.

Pica

• Consuming non-food material like chalk, ice, metal or sponges
• Often done when feeling low
• Puts themselves at risk of health problems
• Will often have another mental health condition

Rumination Disorder

• Repeatedly regurgitates food after eating
• After regurgitating, they may swallow the food again or spit it out.
• Behaviour cannot be explained by other health condition

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

• Feeling the need to avoid either all food, or certain types of food
• The idea of eating leads to feelings of anxiety
• Will not have a preoccupation with weight or body image
• Puts themselves at risk of many health problems
• May run alongside a mental health condition

The impact of these symptoms

These symptoms – regardless of which type of eating disorder is involved – will typically lead to an individual behaving in a different way.

For example, someone may start to act strangely around food, or try to avoid it wherever possible.

Due to possible low mood, they may not engage in activities they once found enjoyable. This may be compounded by low self-esteem and feelings of anxiety.

Similarly, they may self-harm due to feelings of despair or guilt. There are a range of problems caused by eating disorders.

Summary

As mentioned earlier, individual experiences of each condition will differ. Everyone experiences eating disorders differently.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of symptoms. But in each case, symptoms will cause intense distress – making treatment important.

See Also

1. Eating Disorders: Everything You Need to Know
2. What Are The Different Types of Eating Disorders?
3. What Are The Symptoms of Eating Disorders?
4. What Are The Causes of Eating Disorders?
5. How are Eating Disorders Diagnosed?
6. How Can Eating Disorders be Treated?
7. What is the Prognosis for Eating Disorders?
8. 10 Tips for Living With Eating Disorders