How to Spot an Eating Disorder in a Loved One

This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness week. The goal of the week is to bring awareness to the issue of eating disorders, educate, myth bust, connect with others, and share stories. 30 million Americans struggle with an eating disorder and even more battle with food and body image.

If you think you or a loved one may have an eating disorder the earlier it is recognized and help received the greater the chance for recovery.

The following are some of the signs and symptoms to be aware of found on the National Eating Disorders website.

This is not a checklist, just a list that should be used to bring awareness to a possible issue.

Common emotional symptoms:

In general, behaviors and attitudes that indicate that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns
Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, carbohydrates, fat grams, and dieting
Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g., no carbohydrates, etc.) SIDE NOTE: Why diets can be a slippery slope.
Appears uncomfortable eating around others
Food rituals (e.g. eats only a particular food or food group [e.g. condiments], excessive chewing, doesn’t allow foods to touch)
Skipping meals or taking small portions of food at regular meals
Any new practices with food or fad diets, including cutting out entire food groups (no sugar, no carbs, no dairy, vegetarianism/veganism)
Withdrawal from usual friends and activities

Common physical symptoms:

Noticeable fluctuations in weight, both up and down
Stomach cramps, other non-specific gastrointestinal complaints (constipation, acid reflux, etc.)
Menstrual irregularities — missing periods or only having a period while on hormonal contraceptives (this is not considered a “true” period)
Difficulties concentrating
Abnormal laboratory findings (anemia, low thyroid and hormone levels, low potassium, low white and red blood cell counts)
Dizziness, especially upon standing
Fainting/syncope
Feeling cold all the time
Dry skin and hair, and brittle nails
Cold, mottled hands and feet or swelling of feet

Signs of Anorexia Nervosa

Dramatic weight loss
Dresses in layers to hide weight loss or stay warm
Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting.
Makes frequent comments about feeling “fat.’
Resists or is unable to maintain a body weight appropriate for their age, height, and build
Maintains an excessive, rigid exercise regime – despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury

Signs of Bulimia Nervosa

Evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics
Drinks excessive amounts of water or non-caloric beverages, and/or uses excessive amounts of mouthwash, mints, and gum
Has calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self- induced vomiting
Dental problems, such as enamel erosion, cavities, discoloration of teeth from vomiting, and tooth sensitivity

Signs of Binge Eating Disorder

Secret recurring episodes of binge eating (eating in a discrete period of time an amount of food that is much larger than most individuals would eat under similar circumstances); feels lack of control over ability to stop eating
Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after overeating, and/or feelings of low self-esteem
Steals or hoards food in strange places
Creates lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge sessions

Signs of Otherwise Specified Eating Disorder

Frequent episodes of consuming very large amount of food followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting
Self-esteem overly related to body image
Expresses a need to “burn off” calories taken in

Signs of other behavior concerns

Cutting out an increasing number of food groups (all sugar, all carbs, all dairy, all meat, all animal products)
An increase in concern about the health of ingredients; an inability to eat anything but a narrow group of foods that are deemed ‘healthy’ or ‘pure’
Exercise that significantly interferes with important activities, occurs at inappropriate times or in inappropriate settings, or occurs when the individual exercises despite injury or other medical complications
Intense anxiety, depression and/or distress if unable to exercise
Exercise takes place despite injury or fatigue

If you or someone you love do not have to have all of these behaviors to reach out for help, nor do you need to be clinically diagnosed with an eating disorder. Subclinical eating disorders, meaning those that do not meet the diagnostic criteria set out by the DSM-5, are just as worthy to receive treatment for both your mental state and nutritional wellbeing.

Nutrition counseling by a Registered Dietitian that specializes in treating eating disorders is a critical part of addressing any of the above issues. If you are in need of eating disorder, subclinical disordered eating, chronic dieting, weight cycling issues, or intuitive eating reach out explore my website at thetastybalance.com or visit nationaleatingdisorders.org for more information and a treatment finder.