6 warning signs of an eating disorder

Are you worried you may have an eating disorder but aren't sure? Read these 6 signs and symptoms of eating disorders to see if any resonate with you.

As a dietitian who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, all too often I see people overlook the warning signs that their once-harmless dieting behaviors are getting out of control.

In a culture that praises weight loss and dietary behaviors, it can be easy for eating disorder symptoms to go unnoticed, and unfortunately, they can sometimes even be praised for people with larger bodies. It can be difficult to realize that you are struggling with an eating disorder when disordered eating behaviors have become so normalized in this health- and weight-obsessed culture.

While this post is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose and is not a substitute for individualized medical, nutritional, or mental health advice, I hope it gives you some insight to guide you toward finding a provider who can provide you with a diagnosis or, Most importantly, the attention and support you deserve. You deserve to have a healthy relationship with food.

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a biopsychosocial disorder, meaning it is influenced by biology (genetics), personality traits (often seen alongside other mental illnesses such as anxiety or PTSD), and sociocultural factors such as bias. against fats. There are several types of eating disorders, including:

anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Binge eating disorder
Other specified eating disorder
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Rumination disorder
Pica
orthorexia

Signs and symptoms of an eating disorder

1.You are worried about food.

I always ask my clients to imagine a pie chart that covers all the thoughts they have throughout the day, and then I ask them if they shaded in the part of their thoughts that includes food, weight, and health, what percentage would they have? be shaded?

While there's no exact threshold here, it's eye-opening to hear the answer. My clients who say oh, it's all eating or definitely the majority, 75% or more, usually have an eating disorder or eating disorders.

If you become obsessed with food choices and feel like you're constantly thinking and stressing about food and don't have the mental bandwidth for much else, you deserve more support.

2. Your list of “safe foods” is getting shorter.

People with eating disorders often avoid many foods or a particular food group, such as carbohydrates or fats, putting them at risk for nutritional deficiencies. Typically, if a “fear food” is consumed, they will feel significant distress and experience intense guilt or shame.

3. Your social life is negatively affected.

Do you avoid certain eating situations or do they cause you significant discomfort? People with eating disorders often have difficulty eating in restaurants and traveling, and may skip social events or meeting friends that revolve around food.

4. You notice new physical symptoms.

You may notice one or many of the following symptoms: dramatic weight fluctuations, amenorrhea (or loss of menstrual cycle), feeling cold, development of lanugo or fine hair on the body, dry skin, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, changes in blood pressure. , gastrointestinal upset, hair loss and difficulty sleeping.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these are some common physical symptoms to look out for. You may also want to read my blog post at signs that you are eating little.

5. You feel out of control with food.

My clients often say that they feel like they can't trust themselves around food and that they feel out of control with certain trigger foods. Once they start eating a certain food, they are unable to stop and eat to the point of feeling significant discomfort and sometimes not even feeling present during the experience.

Afterwards, they will report feeling intense guilt or shame and may try to engage in compensatory behavior such as purging, overexercising, or restricting the next day. They may also eat secretly or hide or hoard food.

6. You obsess over the shape and size of your body.

People with eating disorders are often significantly dissatisfied with the appearance of their body and frequently engage in body checking behaviors, such as spending time looking in the mirror, weighing themselves, comparing their body to others, or picking at different areas of the body.

What to do if you suspect you have an eating disorder

If you suspect you may have an eating disorder or eating disorders, you deserve treatment, support and care. You shouldn't suffer alone.

Contact a registered dietitian, therapist, or PCP who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders to see if you meet the criteria for an eating disorder. And even if you don't (there are issues with the diagnostic criteria), you still deserve support if this is negatively affecting your quality of life. Final point.

Our private practice specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and all of our registered dietitians are weight-inclusive and trauma-informed. Learn more about nutritional counseling and book your nutritional assessment today.