5 Common Signs of an Eating Disorder
We’ve all seen the various ads and products geared toward weight management and ‘healthy’ living; however, society’s focus on weight, appearance, and dieting can lead to problematic, and even obsessive, behaviors that are far from healthy and sustainable. Here, I’ve outlined 5 common signs of an eating disorder that may be present in your life, or the life of someone you love.
Photo by Farhad Ibrahimzade on Unsplash
What’s an eating disorder, anyway?
While they are gaining more awareness in recent years, eating disorders have been a major mental and physical health issue for many years, impacting ~9% of the US population… that’s 28.8 million people who will have an eating disorder at some point in their lives! But, what exactly is an eating disorder?
There are several factors that go into the official diagnosis of an eating disorder; however, there are a few themes across the different types. Ultimately, an eating disorder involves abnormal eating and/or exercise behaviors that negatively impacts a person’s mental and physical health. Some of these mental and physical impacts are dependent on the type of eating disorder a person is engaged with, while some are present across the board. I’ll go into more detail about the type-dependent impacts in a later post - here, I’ve outlined 5 common signs of an eating disorder that are present amongst most eating disorder types.
Important note: these do not include dietary or behavioral changes made due to a medical condition
5 common signs of an eating disorder
changes in intake
Our daily intake may change for a variety of reasons, which is totally normal! In the big picture, we all have a baseline intake that our body needs in order to function properly, and this is what contributes to feelings of hunger and fullness throughout the day. Someone who is living with an eating disorder will often go against these hunger and fullness cues in an effort to alter their intake. In extreme cases, this person may not eat at all or will eat as little as possible, typically to lose weight and/or to change their appearance, or may eat beyond fullness. As mentioned previously, this does not include changes to intake due to a medical condition.
major weight changes
If an eating disorder is present for a long period, major weight changes may occur. This includes both weight loss and weight gain, and is not exclusive to certain body types or weights, contrary to popular belief. Major weight changes is indicative of changes in a person’s intake and/or exercise habits - if this weight change occurred in a short period, speak with your doctor, dietitian, and/or mental health professional to assess further.
obsessive thoughts about food, weight, body, or exercise
Due to their controlling and restrictive nature, eating disorders often create a sense of fear and anxiety around certain behaviors, foods, and characteristics. This typically leads to rigidity around food and/or exercise, internalized ideas of what their body “should” look like, and a distorted perception of how food and exercise alters their appearance. For example, someone may avoid certain foods out of fear of gaining weight and/or engage in exercise in an effort to avoid weight gain. Over time, this thought process becomes the primary concern for someone living with an eating disorder and gradually impacts more and more of their life.
low physical and mental energy
Think about it - if our bodies aren’t receiving the essential nutrients they need to function properly, we’re going to feel tired, have difficulty concentrating, and will struggle to keep up with our typical day to day. It happens when we’re running late for work and miss breakfast, so imagine if we intentionally restricted our intake or skipped meals out of perceived necessity. After a long period, our bodies enter starvation mode and begin to allocate energy only to necessary bodily functions - breathing, our heart beating, etc. Other functions like concentration, memory storage, emotionality, and personality traits are often “turned off” in the body’s attempt to preserve energy. I’ll explain this more in a later post.
negative body image
Finally, one of the driving forces of an eating disorder is one’s negative self-perception. This is often based on standards of beauty, comparisons with others, and the belief that they must look a certain way to be deemed beautiful. The eating disorder serves as a method to change one’s appearance and to feel better about themselves; however, the negative self-perception remains and the cycle continues toward an ever-moving target.
“Girls* developed eating disorders when our culture developed a standard of beauty that they couldn’t obtain by being healthy. When unnatural thinness became attractive, girls did unnatural things to be thin.” - Mary Pipher
* eating disorders can impact all individuals, regardless of age or gender
Photo by Yuris Alhumaydy on Unsplash
Conclusion
Eating disorders, while not discussed as openly as other mental health conditions, impact millions of people throughout their lives and can have severe implications on a person’s physical and mental health if left untreated. If you suspect you or someone you love may be living with an eating disorder, reach out to a medical and/or mental health professional for a formal assessment. Recovery is possible with appropriate support and treatment!
As always, I’d like to be clear that this blog post is intended for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace professional counseling or clinical advice. If you’re in need of support, please consider speaking to a professional to be evaluated.
You are also welcome to contact me to see if I might be able to support you as you journey forward.
~ Catherine
