Every year, more than 10,000 deaths occur due to cases of EDNOS. However, only 55% of anorexia cases are ever diagnosed.
Three types of EDs affect 1.9 million American adolescents. Eating disorders are more likely to appear in adolescence, with 14% of boys suffering from an ED.
Luckily, anyone can spot the signs of an eating disorder. If you suspect someone close to you has anorexia, bulimia, or another eating disorder, it’s important to seek professional help. Untreated, eating disorders can result in serious health issues and can be fatal.
Read on to learn about the common symptoms of eating disorders.
Emotional and Mental Eating Disorder Symptoms
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions and some of the earliest symptoms you might recognize can be emotional.
It’s common for someone with an eating disorder to become obsessed with weight loss, food, and body image.
You may notice a big drop in self-confidence and an increase in mood swings. You may also notice depressive tendencies, especially in relation to topics surrounding eating and food.
Behavioral Signs of Eating Disorders
There are plenty of behavioral signs to look out for that indicate an eating disorder. This will depend on the type of eating disorder but all changes in behavior related to eating should be monitored.
Behavioral symptoms for anorexia and bulimia may include:
- Concerns about eating in public or in front of others
- Avoiding mealtimes
- Refusal to eat certain types of foods
- Denying feeling hungry or wanting to eat
- Repeatedly weighing themselves
- Creating new rituals around food
- Cooking food without eating
- Withdrawing from social activities
On the other hand, behavioral binge eating disorder symptoms may include:
- A compulsion to eat
- Eating unusually large amounts of food in a short period
- Eating very quickly
- Often choosing to eat alone or eat in secret
- Displaying disgust around food and eating
A loved one with an eating disorder may display a mixture of these behavioral symptoms and it’s important to remain aware.
Physical Symptoms of Eating Disorders
There are plenty of physical signs of eating disorders to look out for if you suspect your loved one may be suffering from EDNOS. The obvious physical anorexia symptoms are weight loss and muscle loss. Obvious binge eating physical symptoms include dramatic weight gain.
However, other physical symptoms include:
- Fainting and dizziness due to lack of food
- Gastrointestinal pain and issues
- Sleeping issues
- Menstrual irregularities
- Dry skin and thin hair and nails
- Fluctuations in weight
- Constantly feeling cold
- Impaired immune function
These are some of the most common symptoms of eating disorders. If you notice a loved one displaying any of these symptoms, seek eating disorder treatment advice as soon as possible.
If left untreated, serious health issues can occur. Read this link to find out more.
Look Out for Symptoms of Eating Disorders
Remember that your loved one may not exhibit all of these symptoms of eating disorders. If you suspect that they are struggling with an eating disorder, keep a close eye on them to identify the illness.
Our site is full of health-related content to help you and your loved ones feel your best. Keep reading for more informative articles.
