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.