Are you obsessed with food but facing difficulty nowadays due to unhealthy diet patterns? If yes then you might be suffering from an eating disorder. An eating disorder is a common mental health condition in which individuals feel an unhealthy obsession with food items. In addition, some people have reduced food intake while some on the other hand do overeating. However you should be aware of the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. You will also get knowledge regarding the signs of an eating disorder in females. Furthermore, if you are unable to physically visit any health clinic, then you can also benefit from our telehealth services. After reading this article, you will get completely familiar with the signs that evidence you have an eating disorder.
What are Eating disorders?
Eating disorders are the common mental health condition that affects the behavioral patterns. Individuals suffering from eating disorders are unable to develop a healthy relationship with food. Their undesired and altered food patterns interfere with their life. Moreover, they also experience certain undesired changes in their body. The onset of eating disorders is not limited to any specific age, gender, or any other socio-economic factor. However, most teenagers are affected by this disorder. If you or your loved one is diagnosed with any eating disorder then early intervention is necessary to prevent any further complications.
There are many types of eating disorders but the most common types are as follows:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge eating disorder
- Other specific feeding and eating disorders
- Orthorexia
- Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder
- Pica
What are the signs of an eating disorder?
In all the above-mentioned eating disorders, individuals face trouble regulating their healthy eating schedule. However, all the eating disorder symptoms vary in each condition.
Before contacting any professional expert, you can also self-diagnose the eating disorder condition by considering the below-mentioned eating disorder symptoms list.
Some common common signs and symptoms of eating disorders include:
- Drastic changes in weight
- Issues in the gastrointestinal tract
- Feelings of embarrassment or shyness while eating in public
- Inappropriate estimation of the body weight
- Intense fear of being overweight
- Restricted food patterns
- Most often episodes of binge eating
- Metabolic and hormonal changes
- Excessive physical workout
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a common eating disorder that majorly affects young females. In this disorder, females get to indulge in overeating and excessive workout routines which result in their severe weight loss. Instead of focusing on healthy eating patterns, anorexic females always overestimate their body size and weight and stop eating for a longer period. They continue to judge themselves as obese despite extreme weight loss. If the anorexia nervosa is left untreated, then it can be lethal. If you suffer from anorexia nervosa then there is a greater possibility that you will have to experience certain symptoms. The most common signs of eating disorders in teenage females include:
- Frequent estimation of body weight
- Reduced body weight due to decreased eating patterns
- Denial of hunger
- Extreme exercise
- Shedding of hairs
- Fatigue or body aches
- Anxiety at the time of food intake
- Dryness of skin
- Brittleness of nails
- Issues in the menstrual cycle
Bulimia nervosa
Just like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa is a common eating disorder in teenagers. However, in this disorder, individuals exhibit the signs of food addiction. They are involved in overeating patterns which are referred to as binge episodes. They don’t feel any control over their eating schedule and spend the majority of their day eating different items. Whether they are feeling sad or happy, they start eating and get obese in a rapid manner.
Signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa
Individuals with bulimia nervosa exhibit some common symptoms which are as follows:
- Unexpected body weight fluctuations
- Preoccupied with body shape and weight
- Frequent episodes of overeating or binging
- Preference of isolation
- Withdrawal from social activities due to their distorted body shape
Binge eating disorder
If the binge eating occurs in episodes then it is referred to as the binge eating disorder. Affected individuals eat more food items at regular intervals as compared to normal healthy individuals. Moreover, such individuals don’t wait for their hunger pangs to start eating. When they get sad or feel excited they immediately think and start eating whatever they find in their kitchen. In addition, they don’t even stop eating when they get full. Although they feel uncomfortable but don’t restrict their eating. They not only eat as they enjoy their eating without any barrier.
As they get obese due to being young, they feel shame when interacting with others. However, individuals with overweight experience don’t have to binge eat. In some cases, some healthy and normal individuals also experience binge eating disorders.
Symptoms of binge eating disorder exhibit a resemblance with bulimia nervosa. Some common signs of binge eating disorders include:
- Repeated binge episodes
- Overeating symptoms
- Eating in isolation
- Sense of guilt or shyness in public
Pica
Pica is also an eating disorder. This eating disorder involves the intake of items that are not specifically considered as food. In addition, their intake of food items is not significant for their bodies as those items do not provide any nutritional value. Although food products are devoid of all healthy nutrients, they face major cravings for the items which include paper, chalk, soil, dirt, wool, cloth detergent, etc. The excessive intake of such items can pose major health risks. The onset of pica disorder symptoms mostly occurs in children and adolescents. Children suffering from disorders experience various cognitive and developmental issues. They face difficulty in paying attention to important details and face trouble in both their personal and academic life.
Rumination disorder
This eating disorder involves the regurgitation of food after food swallowing and chewing. Even if they have swallowed or chewed the food, they swallow and rechew and then spit it out. They exhibit this behavior after 30 minutes of meal completion. Moreover, the onset of rumination disorder also occurs in the childhood or adult stages. Without any effective treatment or therapy, this disorder can not be effectively treated.
If the condition persists, it can also result in weight loss and other undesired changes. All individuals who are struggling with any eating disorder should immediately consult with the dietician for effective guidance regarding their food patterns and schedule. So if you think that you or any loved one is suffering from an eating disorder should immediately consider your situation. Instead of taking any stress or depression, talk to your friend or any loved one to get a better idea for your healthy eating and lifestyle.
Orthorexia
As a large number of eating disorders involve obsession, orthorexia also involves a specific type of obsession. In this eating disorder, individuals pay more attention to the quality of food as compared to the quantity. They always strive to find the qualitative food that gives them extra nutritional value. Initially, individuals make a habit of clean eating. Then with time, they avoid their intake of dairy products to avoid the excessive fat. Likewise, they also start avoiding artificial products or preservatives. Their obsession increased to a major extent as they even selected the food after a thorough investigation. If they find any food products that are not grown under optimal conditions then they avoid them.
Symptoms of orthorexia
Some major and common symptoms of orthorexia include:
- Most often anxiety about food choices
- Confident feeling about selecting healthy food choices
- Restricted social engagement
- Accompanying people having better regimen
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder
This eating disorder also involves highly altered eating patterns. Individuals suffering from avoidant restrictive food intake disorder prefer a picky eating schedule. Due to their extremely selective food choices, they don’t get the desired nutritional value for their body.
Read More: Depression in young adults: Signs, Causes, and Treatment
Symptoms of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder
The common symptoms of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder are as follows:
- Extreme sensitivity towards the food items
- Reduced appetite levels
- Lessened interest in food selection
Treatment of eating disorders
Eating disorders exert a strong influence on each person’s physical as well as mental health. All eating disorders should be treated in a significant manner. However, if eating disorders are left untreated then they can adversely affect the person’s life. At Inland Empire Behavioral Group, you can find the finest treatment for all eating disorders. All the therapeutic strategies are tailored to each person’s needs. You can find here a highly professional and skilled mental health therapist who provides the best medication and therapy for each eating disorder. Individuals suffering from eating disorders are unable to think about what kind of healthy patterns they should adopt for their healthy lifestyle. They employ the treatment in the form of talk therapy for better assistance and guidance of affected individuals.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the common talk therapy that is used in the treatment of an eating disorder. This psychotherapy involves the direct interaction of therapists with the individuals. They guide them on how they avoid unhealthy patterns and experience a better lifestyle. Moreover, they can recognize distorted thoughts and change their eating behavior accordingly.
Medications
Individuals with eating disorders experience anxiety or depression. So experts recommend anti-anxiety or antidepressants to treat the anxiety symptoms. Moreover, they also recommend different mood stabilizers that can help them to regain mood stability. You can also get benefits from our medication management programs. Experts provide an effective guide regarding the dosage and effectiveness of medications.
Nutritional counseling
Our Inland Empire Behavioral Group experts guide individuals regarding the appropriate food choices. They teach them which food is healthy for them and which food they have to avoid. By taking regular nutritional counseling sessions, you can get a vivid idea of how to live a prosperous life without any eating disorder.
Last thoughts
Eating disorders are common behavioral conditions that involve persistent disrupted food patterns. Individuals with eating disorders are unable to regulate their food patterns. Moreover, they also experience major changes in their body including drastic weight changes and distorted body shape. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa binge eating disorder etc are common eating disorders. If you or your loved one is suffering from an eating disorder then immediately reach out to our experts. They will make you aware of the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. After providing extensive information on eating disorders and symptoms, they recommend the finest medication and therapy to treat your eating disorder. So what are you waiting for? Communicate with our experts and initiate your journey of mental wellness.
